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Chapter 06 — AI Tools

Know what to use, when to use it, and how.

ChatGPT, Claude, Replit, CapCut, prompt engineering, automation workflows — real reviews and comparisons from someone who uses them daily.

ChatGPTClaudeReplitCapCutAutomationPrompt engineeringTool comparisonsAI workflows
claude — new chatHelp me plan my weekWeek planned. 3 tasks blocked.Now plan my budget too
system_prompt.txt
SYSTEM
You are a helpful assistant helping me use AI for my real life.
USER
Write a salary negotiation script for tomorrow's call.
ASSISTANT
Here's a 3-part script you can use…
▋
Ask Claude anything…
⌘K
New chat session
↩
Use saved prompt
⌘J
Compare models
⌘M
Export as PDF
⇧⌘E
MODEL COMPARE
Claude
GPT-4o
Writing
Reasoning
Speed
Context
Updated Jul 2025 · Tish's picks
Featured Story
A modern laptop on a clean wooden desk surrounded by icons representing multiple AI tools and platforms. The minimalist workspace is warmly lit with a desk lamp and plant, symbolizing the process of choosing the right AI tool for different tasks.
AI Tools· 5 min read

I'm Paying for Four AI Tools... Do I Actually Need All of Them?

AI subscriptions add up quickly. Here's how I use AI to compare overlapping tools, evaluate what I actually use, and decide whether each monthly subscription is earning its place.

Prompts

Prompts to Try

Copy and paste these exact prompts. Just fill in your own details in the brackets.

Tool comparisons

Tool Comparison

Help me compare [Tool A] vs [Tool B] for my specific use case: [describe what you're trying to do]. I'm not very technical. I care most about [ease of use / cost / capability / something else]. What would you recommend and why?
Prompt engineering

Prompt Engineering Help

I wrote this prompt and the responses aren't what I want: [paste your prompt]. What's wrong with it? How would you rewrite it to get better results? Explain what changes you made and why.
Tip:This is a great way to learn prompt engineering — let AI teach you by fixing your own prompts.
Automation

Workflow Automation Idea

I do [describe a repetitive task] about [X] times per week. It takes me [X] minutes each time. Can you help me think through whether this is something that could be automated with AI, and what tools or approaches I should look into?
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Tools

Recommended Tools

The tools I actually use for these tasks.

ChatGPT

Freemium

AI Assistant

The most widely used AI assistant. Great for thinking through problems, drafting, and brainstorming.

Tish's Take

"My daily driver. Not perfect but the best all-around starting point for most real-life tasks."

Claude (Anthropic)

Freemium

AI Assistant

Exceptional at nuanced reasoning, long documents, and tasks where tone and sensitivity matter.

Tish's Take

"My go-to when I need something thought through carefully. Especially good for drafting difficult messages."

Replit

Freemium

Development

AI-powered development platform. Build and update websites and apps through conversation.

Tish's Take

"This entire website was built with Replit. It's how non-technical people can now own real software."

CapCut

Freemium

Video

AI-powered video editing. Auto-captions, templates, and smart editing for social content.

Tish's Take

"The fastest way to create polished short-form video content without needing editing skills."

Notion AI

Freemium

Productivity

AI writing and organization built into your workspace. Great for notes, docs, and planning.

Tish's Take

"If you already use Notion, the AI add-on is worth it. If you don't, don't start just for the AI."

Google Gemini

Freemium

AI Assistant

Google's AI assistant, deeply integrated with Google Workspace and search.

Tish's Take

"Most useful if you're already in the Google ecosystem. The Workspace integration is genuinely useful for docs and sheets."

Gamma

Freemium

Presentations

AI-powered presentation builder. Create polished decks in minutes.

Tish's Take

"Game-changing for anyone who needs to make presentations but hates making presentations."

Downloads

Downloads & Toolkits

guide

AI Starter Guide

Everything you need to get started using AI for everyday life — the tools, the mindset, and your first 10 prompts.