2024 was once the yr of AI equipment. Hundreds of recent apps introduced — some simply picture turbines and gimmicks, others a lot more helpful. What stood out to me have been the equipment that in truth helped you get issues accomplished.
This listing comes from a16z’s AI Unwrapped, which in large part options client apps for private use. I’m calling out a couple of favorites from classes like productiveness, target audience enlargement, finding out, or even development your personal equipment. You’ll be able to attempt those equipment the next day to come to start out being extra productive.
Whether or not you wish to have a analysis unload on house agriculture, wish to clone your self right into a short-form video author, or simply prevent typing the whole thing out via hand, there’s one thing right here price making an attempt. Let’s get into it.
AI Gear for Productiveness and Target market Enlargement — My Most sensible Selections
1. Waft Voice: Palms-Loose Productiveness with AI
In the event you’ve ever needed it’s essential communicate for your computer as a substitute of typing, Waft could be the AI software you’ve been looking forward to.
Very similar to Grammarly, Waft embeds itself into each and every software that you simply use. However as a substitute of adjusting your grammar, Waft means that you can regulate all of your apps via talking out loud. You’ll be able to write emails, reply to Slack messages, edit Google Doctors, and extra — all with out touching a keyboard.
Why Waft Is Attention-grabbing
All of us kind method an excessive amount of. Between emails, Slack, doctors, and textual content messages, it provides up. Waft is making an attempt to chop out the additional effort via making it imaginable to speak for your pc the best way you’d communicate to an assistant.
Waft is constructed to be built-in into your workflow, which means you’ll:
- Talk out a complete Slack reaction as a substitute of typing.
- Edit a record simply by pronouncing what adjustments you wish to have.
- Translate textual content at the fly.
- Keep an eye on all of your workflow with voice instructions.
How Waft Works
I examined Waft, and right here’s the way it works:
- Dangle down the gap bar, talk your command, and Waft transcribes it in actual time.
- Are living modifying is imaginable — simply inform it to delete, rewrite, or alternate wording.
- You’ll be able to even respond to Slack and e-mail hands-free. AI makes positive your messages don’t sound like a robot mess.
Right here’s a screenshot of Waft in motion:
My take: Enhancing via voice is bizarre to start with however roughly superb when you get used to it. In the event you’re anyone who lives in Slack and e-mail, Waft is price making an attempt
2. Cubby: AI That Organizes Your Analysis for You
Cubby is a analysis assistant for individuals who hoard knowledge. In the event you’re the type of one who has 50 tabs open always, you must attempt Cubby. This software makes remembering the place you noticed that one quote, article, or podcast clip easy.
As a substitute of dumping hyperlinks right into a Perception document or bookmarking stuff you’ll by no means revisit, you’ll simply drop the whole thing into Cubby. That incorporates PDFs, podcasts, MP3s, MP4s, YouTube movies, social media threads, articles, and recordsdata out of your pc. Then, Cubby can transcribe and prepare the tips into one thing helpful.
Why Cubby Is Helpful
AI equipment promise to make lifestyles more straightforward, however Cubby solves an actual downside: Analysis is a large number.
In the event you’ve ever attempted to do a deep dive on an issue, you know the way it is going. You get started via studying one article, which hyperlinks to a whitepaper, which references a podcast, which makes you call to mind a YouTube video anyone really useful, which results in some other article. Now, you could have a dozen assets however no construction.
Cubby acts as a central mind for all of your analysis, pulling the whole thing in combination and making it searchable and usable. As a substitute of maintaining a tally of tabs and notes, you simply unload the whole thing in and let AI deal with the remainder.
How Cubby Works
- Drag and drop anything else you’re researching into Cubby.
- Cubby transcribes the whole thing and pulls out the important thing issues.
- You’ll be able to ask it questions concerning the content material as a substitute of manually digging thru hours of subject material.
My take: Cubby acts as a private analysis assistant, serving to you in finding connections between other assets with out handbook effort.
3. Delphi: AI Clones for Content material Advent
Delphi means that you can create an AI clone of your self that folks can have interaction with. As a substitute of continuously answering the similar questions or seeking to be in 100 puts immediately, you’ll educate an AI type in your wisdom. Your target audience can then “communicate” to you even whilst you’re no longer there.
Why Delphi Is Helpful
Let’s say you’re a content material author, advisor, or educator. You almost certainly get a large number of the similar questions again and again — tips on how to get started a publication, tips on how to develop an target audience, tips on how to worth services and products.
Typically, you’d must both:
- Solution each and every query manually (onerous).
- Create FAQ pages or pre-recorded movies (useful however static).
With Delphi, your AI clone can resolution the ones questions for you in some way that feels interactive and private. AI pulls from the whole thing you’ve ever mentioned, written, or recorded and responds in some way that sounds such as you.
In the event you’ve constructed an target audience and folks price your experience, Delphi means that you can scale that engagement with out being on name 24/7.
How Delphi Works
You educate Delphi in your current content material — articles you’ve written, your podcasts, your movies, and any related recordings. As soon as your AI clone is up and operating, folks can cross for your web page and feature a dialog with it.
Delphi’s chatbot is constructed to sound such as you and to provide solutions in keeping with your viewpoint — no longer simply generic, AI-generated recommendation.
I examined this out with the AI clone of Brian Halligan, co-founder and government chairperson at HubSpot. I sought after to invite questions on rising to $30M ARR and were given some lovely useful responses, along side referral hyperlinks the place I may just be informed extra from Brian.
Delphi is a smart thought for anyone who has a wealth of experience and with little time for one-on-one convos.
That mentioned, this software does lift a larger query: Do folks in truth need to speak to an AI model of you? If anyone is searching for a step by step procedure, they could be nice chatting with AI. But when they would like actual comments, concepts, or emotional connection, they’re most definitely nonetheless going to need you, no longer your clone.
My take: Presently, Delphi is perfect for creators who have already got deep wisdom in a selected house and a neighborhood of people who find themselves desperate to get right of entry to it.
4. HeyGen: AI-Powered Video Avatars
AI-generated video content material has come some distance.
A couple of years in the past, maximum AI avatars appeared stiff and robot, the type of factor you’d see in a nasty deepfake. However, HeyGen is pushing the bounds. Other folks would possibly in truth mistake an AI-generated model of you for the true factor.
HeyGen means that you can clone your self right into a fine quality AI avatar. Your virtual self can then give shows and even simply communicate for your target audience, with out you stepping in entrance of the digital camera.
To experiment with the software, I cloned myself and delivered a whole direction thru my AI clone.
Why HeyGen Is Attention-grabbing
HeyGen isn’t like the ones bizarre robot avatars from a couple of years in the past. The software now has smoother facial actions and higher hand gestures, because of this the uncanny valley impact is shrinking.
In truth, some folks didn’t notice AI was once presenting my direction. They emailed me later on, pronouncing I appeared “a little bit off” as a result of I used to be maintaining my arms nonetheless — one thing the early HeyGen type required. On the other hand, even that degree of bewilderment presentations how a long way the tech has come.
In case your content material is only tutorial or educational, HeyGen is an effective way to create at scale with no need to seem on digital camera each and every time.
The place HeyGen May Be Useful
For individuals who wish to create video content material at scale, HeyGen is in truth a in point of fact useful gizmo.
- In the event you run a web-based direction, it’s essential use HeyGen to create courses with out filming each and every unmarried one.
- In the event you report a large number of social media content material, HeyGen may just allow you to create short-form movies sooner.
- If you wish to have to translate movies into other languages, HeyGen can dub your avatar’s voice whilst maintaining a herbal lip sync.
My take: Similar to with Delphi, there’s one giant query in my intellect. How a lot do folks in truth wish to have interaction with an AI model of you rather than the true factor?
In case your content material is only informational, this might be an effective way to scale video introduction. But when your target audience is invested in YOU — your distinctive expressions, humor, and effort — an AI clone isn’t an actual replace.
5. Argil: AI Cloning for Quick-Shape Video Content material
This one is in particular constructed for short-form video. Argil is a startup that permits you to clone your self with only a couple mins of video. You’ll be able to then get started producing AI-powered movies via typing out a script.
When surfing examples from their web site, I spotted Argil interested in fast, punchy, creator-style content material. It’s no longer seeking to change HeyGen or different full-scale avatar equipment. Argil is constructed for velocity and ease.
Why Argil Is Helpful
You add a quick coaching video after which use your AI clone to generate clips that train, advertise, or entertain. Argil’s high quality isn’t easiest — particularly within the voice and visible realism — however it’s speedy and light-weight.
The place Argil May Be Useful
Argil is most fitted for:
- Creators making short-form content material on platforms like TikTok or Instagram.
- Individuals who have already got an target audience and wish to repurpose or batch video manufacturing.
- Somebody experimenting with AI avatars who doesn’t want a complete manufacturing studio.
Similar to HeyGen and Delphi, the true price right here comes after you’ve constructed an target audience and found out what sort of content material resonates.
How Argil Works
File a two-minute video of your self, and Argil generates an AI clone. From there, you’ll script movies via simply typing textual content. The clone will learn it again, totally animated. The interface is inconspicuous and feels extra like a Perception document than a video editor, which makes it lovely approachable.
My take: Argil is a fab idea for short-form creators, however you’ll get essentially the most out of the software if you recognize what target audience you’re talking to.
6. Opus: AI-Powered Video Enhancing
Opus is a device most of the people already know. It takes long-form video — podcasts, interviews, keynotes — and robotically cuts it into quick, shareable clips.
For the reason that modifying video is without doubt one of the largest time sucks in content material introduction, equipment like Opus will also be particularly precious. I examined it the usage of an episode from Lex Fridman’s podcast. Opus grabbed highlights from the dialog and grew to become them into clips for TikTok, Shorts, Reels, and past.
Why Opus Is Helpful
Other folks eat short-form movies at scale, however growing enticing clips from lengthy content material is tedious. Opus is helping via:
- Figuring out key moments for your video (so that you don’t have to clean thru hours of photos).
- Auto-generating captions and subtitles for social media.
- Reducing more than one clips immediately to batch-create content material.
The place Opus May Be Useful
In the event you’re generating long-form video content material, this can be a must-try — even though you must tweak the AI-generated clips.
On the other hand, right here’s the truth: Those equipment create the common model of short-form content material. They’ll get you one thing useful, but when you wish to have one thing that in point of fact sticks out, you continue to wish to put within the paintings.
How Opus Works
You add your long-form video to Opus. The AI scans it, detects key moments, and cuts them into quick clips which are in a position for social media. Opus then robotically provides captions, trims the fluff, and offers you more than one clips to paintings with — all in a couple of mins.
My take: Gear like Opus are nice for saving time, however they received’t make you a perfect content material author. Use them to hurry up the fundamentals, however nonetheless put within the paintings if you wish to have content material that hits.
7. Replit AI: Personalised Coding and Automation
Replit is more or less mind-blowing. Their AI agent is improbable, and the product as a complete is simply tremendous amusing to make use of. This is without doubt one of the perfect examples of why we’re all going to have customized device — equipment which are constructed via and for us, as a substitute of seeking to have compatibility into one-size-fits-all platforms.
Replit AI acts like a co-pilot for coding, serving to you generate and refine code in keeping with what you wish to have. That may be a easy scheduling app or a extra complicated automation.
The effects are mind-blowing. You’ll be able to in truth construct actual merchandise for your self in a question of mins.
Why Replit Is Helpful
Let me provide you with an actual instance. I used to be staring at TV and chatting with my spouse. We mentioned getting higher at scheduling. We’ve a 10-month-old, and each and every hour of the day counts.
We have been the usage of Google Calendar, however it wasn’t precisely what we would have liked. So, I constructed one thing for us. It’s a elementary scheduler that presentations either one of our days side-by-side from 6 a.m. to eight p.m. We will be able to upload duties, mark them as finished, and notice the place we overlap, particularly after we wish to play with our daughter or give every different a spoil.
It’s no longer a elegant app, however it works. And that’s the purpose: I didn’t want each and every characteristic beneath the solar — I simply wanted one thing that labored precisely the best way I sought after.
The place Replit May Be Useful
Replit is a game-changer for marketers and enterprise house owners who want customized device however don’t wish to rent builders for each and every little factor.
Replit is excellent for:
- Individuals who wish to construct private equipment that don’t exist but.
- Groups browsing to spin up light-weight interior equipment speedy.
- Entrepreneurs or operators experimenting with productized utilities or loose equipment as a part of their business plan.
How Replit Works
Replit makes use of an AI agent that helps you thru all of the coding procedure. You describe what you wish to have to construct, like a scheduling software or a customized dashboard, and it generates the underlying code.
You’ll be able to make adjustments in actual time, and the AI continues to regulate, refine, and debug as you cross. You don’t wish to know what you’re doing to get began, and that’s roughly the purpose.
My take: The large release this is customized device. As a substitute of shopping for generic equipment or seeking to pressure your workflow right into a template, Replit means that you can construct precisely what you wish to have within the precise method you wish to have it.
8. Pocket book LM: AI for Smarter Word-Taking
Pocket book LM was once one of the most perfect AI merchandise launched final yr, and no longer just about sufficient individuals are the usage of it. In the event you maintain a large number of knowledge — doctors, concepts, assembly notes, analysis — it’s simple for issues to get scattered. Pocket book LM turns all of that right into a structured, searchable, and in truth usable wisdom base.
It’s like your 2d mind however higher arranged.
In the event you’ve ever needed your notes may just in truth be just right for you, that is the type of software that might alternate the way you procedure knowledge.
Why Pocket book LM Is Helpful
I exploit Pocket book LM always. I’ve were given it hooked as much as all of the other folders I exploit for paintings. It we could me:
- Create briefing doctors in keeping with the whole thing in a folder.
- Generate audio opinions of content material.
- Flip uncooked content material into find out about guides or structured summaries.
Mainly, it’s like having an AI-powered assistant who is helping you flip scattered subject material into usable output with no need to manually type thru the whole thing.
The place Pocket book LM May Be Useful
Pocket book LM is particularly helpful for individuals who maintain a large number of knowledge however don’t have the time to manually type thru the whole thing.
It’s an enormous win for:
- Writers and researchers who wish to temporarily summarize massive quantities of textual content.
- Scholars and execs who need AI to drag out key insights from notes.
- Content material creators who juggle more than one initiatives and wish to keep arranged.
How Pocket book LM Works
You attach Pocket book LM to the folders or recordsdata you’re operating with. AI analyzes the content material after which generates summaries, notes, and guides.
You’ll be able to question it like a analysis assistant. Ask it to floor topics, give an explanation for complicated ideas, or spotlight key concepts throughout paperwork. One in all my favourite options is the find out about information software — you drop in content material, and it builds out a complete finding out information in keeping with what’s within the folder.
My take: Pocket book LM is without doubt one of the perfect AI equipment I’ve used up to now yr. In the event you haven’t attempted it but, get started now. It’s the type of product that feels extra precious the extra you feed into it.
9. Serviette AI: AI-Generated Industry Visuals
Maximum AI symbol turbines are constructed for leisure or aesthetics. They’re amusing to play with however no longer in point of fact designed for enterprise use. Serviette AI flips that. It’s interested in serving to you create polished, reputable visuals in particular for enterprise content material.
My take: In the event you’re growing shows, writing LinkedIn posts, or development gross sales decks, this software offers you speedy, blank pictures that appear to be they belong in an actual enterprise context.
Why Serviette AI Is Helpful
I used Serviette AI on certainly one of my LinkedIn posts about AI-driven procurement, and it immediately generated a spread {of professional}, business-friendly graphics. Those weren’t surreal or off-brand. They in truth appeared like they belonged in a deck or B2B publish.
That is the place Serviette sticks out. It is helping you:
- Create blank, related pictures adapted to your small business content material.
- Skip the never-ending hunt thru inventory footage.
- Make posts, shows, and experiences extra visually enticing with no need a clothier.
The place Serviette AI May Be Useful
For execs who create a large number of business-focused content material, Serviette AI is helping make posts and shows extra visually enticing. Listed below are some B2B fabrics I feel Serviette AI may just spruce up:
- LinkedIn posts. As a substitute of the usage of overused inventory pictures, I will be able to generate customized graphics.
- Gross sales decks and shows. I will be able to temporarily create enterprise visuals with out hiring a clothier.
- Advertising and marketing and branding fabrics. I will be able to generate on-brand pictures that fit your messaging.
How Serviette AI Works
Serviette AI can take one thing like your newest LinkedIn publish and robotically generate symbol choices to head with it. You don’t must recommended it from scratch or tweak difficult settings.
This software is designed to generate visuals that really feel like they belong in a qualified atmosphere — blank, minimum, and topic-specific — fairly than the surreal or cartoonish output maximum symbol equipment default to.
Serviette AI isn’t seeking to change a clothier, however it offers you a place to begin that feels about 80% of the best way there. Typically, that’s greater than sufficient.
My take: In the event you publish a large number of business-related content material, Serviette AI is price making an attempt. AI-generated visuals nonetheless aren’t easiest, however Serviette AI’s center of attention on professional-looking graphics makes it stick out from different symbol equipment.
Paintings Smarter, Now not Tougher With Those AI Gear
Prior to now yr, 1000’s of recent AI apps have introduced. I’ve for my part examined dozens if no longer loads. Whilst some have been gimmicks and extra AI fluff, a few of these equipment made a large distinction in my productiveness.
In the event you’re searching for some AI equipment to experiment with, give those choices a shot first. Waft and Cubby assist you to procedure knowledge and lower down on handbook paintings. Delphi and HeyGen help you scale your self in ways in which weren’t imaginable sooner than. Replit and Opus are making it more straightforward for any person to construct and repurpose content material sooner than ever.
So experiment. Construct. Use what works. Simply don’t put out of your mind to position your personal edge into it.
To be informed extra about lead-scoring techniques and advertising enlargement methods, take a look at the complete episode of Advertising and marketing In opposition to the Grain underneath:
This weblog collection is in partnership with Advertising and marketing In opposition to the Grain, the video podcast. It digs deeper into concepts shared via advertising leaders Kipp Bodnar (HubSpot’s CMO) and Kieran Flanagan (SVP, Advertising and marketing at HubSpot) as they unpack enlargement methods and be informed from standout founders and friends.
