In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape, staying ahead of the competition has never been more crucial. Often, that comes down to how efficient you can make every aspect of your business.
The biggest efficiency opportunity for businesses this year: Generative AI. After years of innovation, speculation, and conversation, AI took the leap this year to go mainstream, quickly going from science experiment to an essential part of business user’s workflows, improving process efficiency and revolutionizing how teams measure success.
According to Gartner, the global artificial intelligence market size is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37.3% from 2023 to 2030. The field is developing at an incredibly rapid pace, and now it’s on you to leverage the tools and technologies to drive innovation. But how do you find the ones that are truly up to the task?
To help you make an informed decision, we’ve created a short list of the best AI tools. These resources offer a wide range of capabilities, from leveraging machine learning algorithms to creating optimized content at scale. Here are our picks:
Today's AI-powered analytics tools leverage machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, and data mining techniques to help you identify patterns, trends, and correlations within the data. Here are our top picks for AI tools for data analysis to help you to improve business efficiency and make data-driven decisions:
(i) ThoughtSpot
We’ll kick this list off with a shameless plug for our own Generative AI offering, ThoughtSpot Sage. Sage is built on top of ThoughtSpot's secure and governed search interface, allowing you to harness the power of large language models like GPT and Google PaLM for self-service analytics at an enterprise scale. ThoughtSpot Sage also uses artificial intelligence to illuminate relevant trends and patterns in your data and present them in an easily understandable format. That’s right, telling a powerful data story that drives business outcomes just got a whole lot easier.
If you’ve ever waited hours (or days… or weeks!) for an answer to a data question, this one’s for you. By empowering frontline business users to search and understand their business data using natural language, you can make informed business decisions that translate to tangible value in your bottom line—all without compromising confidence and security.
Core features:
AI-powered, natural language search
AI-generated answers
AI-powered search suggestions
Human in the loop feedback system
AI-assisted data modeling
Searching for ways to plug AI into your Microsoft or Google Workspace tools? We’ve got apps for that too. Now you can connect your data across the tools you’re already using, and harness the power of AI for analytics right inside your data spreadsheets. The best part is, you can get started for free by downloading our ThoughtSpot for Excel or ThoughtSpot for Sheets plugins.
Looking to search your business data that’s not living in spreadsheets? See how ThoughtSpot Sage can increase BI adoption and data fluency across your organization—sign up for a 14-day free trial.
(ii) Mode
Mode is the best AI software for businesses in the BI space, offering data teams advanced analytics and visualization capabilities. The platform boasts a Notebook interface with an intuitive Visual Explorer that allows technical users to connect to the database, run queries, and turn raw data into actionable intelligence. You can also leverage Mode’s AI assist to seamlessly blend natural language with SQL, allowing you to work with data in whichever way you want.
Core features:
AI assistant for data modeling
SQL editor
Integrated notebook environment
Visual explorer
Connectivity with multiple databases
AI chatbots are AI apps or interfaces that carry human-like conversations. They utilize the power of natural language processing and LLMs to generate a wide range of conversational responses to human text. With this in mind, we have chosen some of the best AI chatbots for businesses that will help you summarize text, ask questions, or do anything you can think of:
(i) ChatGPT
Now, onto the player who acted as a major catalyst to the AI craze way back in 2022 (oh, how far we’ve come in such a short time) and continues to be a major disrupter today: ChatGPT. Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT is a chatbot that enables users to leverage conversational AI to ask and answer questions.
This AI software for business is grounded on an advanced language model that’s been trained on a diverse array of internet text, powered by innovations in transformer architecture. The latest model, GPT-4 is more advanced than previous versions. However, all versions of ChatGPT deliver response hallucinations and introduce security risks. To mitigate these risks, you should ensure your teams have defined use cases for when it is safe to utilize any version of the service for business purposes.
Core features:
Natural language understanding
Contextual responses
Multi-lingual support
Knowledge base integration
Instructional response customization
(ii) Gemini
Gemini is Google’s newest and most powerful AI model to date. Much like OpenAI’s GPT, Gemini can turn text prompts into text, images, audio, videos, and even code. The main difference lies in the type of LLMs they use. While ChatGPT operates on GPT-4 Vision, Gemini leverages Gemini 1.0 Ultra.
You can use Gemini like a chatbot to do a wide variety of tasks, including research, content creation, or assistance with day-to-day tasks. Gemini also runs almost on every device—from smartphones to tablets to desktops. In addition, Gemini can be integrated into websites or applications to provide realistic, natural language responses to user questions.
Core feature:
Multimodal reasoning
Natural language understanding
Mult-lingual support
Integrates into Google Workspace
Available on all devices
(iii) Bing AI
Bing AI is Microsoft’s newest addition to its search engine. It is an AI-powered chatbot that provides comprehensive results in response to users' questions. Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 model, Bing AI users can search for answers online, summarize large text, or gain personalized suggestions. Since the platform is connected to DALL·E, you can also use text prompts to generate engaging digital images.
Core features:
AI-powered search
Text and image generation
Natural language processing
AI-generated stories
Multimodal experience
AI-based content creation tools have been a game changer for content creators globally. Whether you want to create first drafts for ebooks or generate scripts for your YouTube channel, these AI apps for business will accelerate your content creation process:
(i) Jasper
I may be biased as someone who spends a lot of time creating content, but another AI tool for businesses that should be on your radar is Jasper. Jasper is designed to seamlessly aid content creators, marketers, and businesses in generating top-notch content using AI. You can utilize Jasper to craft a diverse set of content types—such as blog articles, product summaries, promotional text, and emails.
What I like the most about Jasper is its brand voice capability. It enables users to incorporate their distinct brand voice into the AI-generated content. This feature helps ensure alignment between the company's brand identity, tone, and style across all Jasper-produced content.
Core features:
Engaging content creation
Tailored AI for your brand voice
Real-time information retrieval
Integrate AI directly into your workflow
Secure, scalable, and customizable writing assistant
(ii) Writersonic
Another AI writing assistant that you can use for research is Writersonic. It uses real-time Google search results for research and lets you adjust the writing tone to craft compelling content. You can leverage Writersonic to create first drafts for short-form copy, such as social media posts, product descriptions, and blurbs, to long-form content, including articles, whitepapers, and blog posts. This platform can generate Al images and voiceovers, allowing you to boost engagement.
Core features:
AI article writer
AI art generator for images and audio
AI-powered content editor
Real-time web search
Keyword research tool
Multilingual support
(iii) Frase.io
Frase.io is another AI tool for businesses that leverages artificial intelligence to help content creators, marketers, and SEO professionals produce high-quality, SEO-friendly content that matches user intent. Frase.io's AI can analyze top-performing content across the web for any given topic, identify key patterns, and provide actionable insights to help users create content that stands out. In essence, Frase.io uses AI to streamline the SEO-focused, content creation process, making the planning process more efficient and effective.
Core features:
Questions and topics of research
AI-generated content briefs
Content optimization
Frase answer engine
Competitors' content analysis
From generating breathtaking images to repurposing videos for your social media feed, leverage these AI tools for your business to produce fascinating results using simple text prompts:
(i) Midjourney
Imagine using simple text prompts to create high-quality images—all without using any code or drawing tool. This futuristic thing is now entirely possible, thanks to Midjourney. This AI tool for businesses has become massively popular for its ability to create life-like images.
To use Midjourney, you have to use the Discord app, sign up for Midjourney, and accept the invitation to the Midjourney Discord channel. After that, just pick the plan that best suits your needs, and you can start generating images. To create a custom image, you provide the platform with a detailed prompt describing the desired scene, style, ambiance, and mood. Midjourney then analyses these prompts and employs powerful LLM models to match the user’s request. Within minutes, you get compelling artwork, which can then be refined or tweaked.
Core features:
Text-to-image generation
High image resolution
Natural language processing
Added parameters for customization
Remix feature
(ii) Adobe Firefly
Like Midjourney, Firefly is one of the best AI tools for business that convert detailed text prompts into images. Part of the Adobe Creative Cloud family, Firefly offers features such as generative recolor, generative fill, text effects, and 3D images. Whether you are a professional designer or a marketer, this platform can help you expand your creativity and experiment with different images. Although Firefly currently supports only image generation, Adobe has hinted that in the future, users will be able to use it for video and audio creation.
Core features:
Text-to-image generation
Remove objects or fill the background
Generative Expand
Retouch and rework
Available in Photoshop Beta
(iii) Descript
Shooting for a podcast or a video is just half the work done. The real challenge is editing—this can take hours or even days. In this regard, Descript can be a huge time saver. This AI-powered tool makes editing videos and podcasts as easy as using docs and slides.
First, it transcribes your videos so you can edit the text as if you are using a doc. It also provides AI suggestions to help you improve your script. Next, you can leverage AI voice clones to polish the audio. And finally, you can add a green screen or template to make your background flawless.
Core features:
Video transcribing
Text-based editing
AI-powered text suggestions
AI voice clones
AI speech generation
Collaborative video editing
(iv) Opus Clip
Opus Clip is also a video clipping tool, specifically designed for content creators who want to repurpose long-form videos into shorts. This platform utilizes AI to analyze your long videos and automatically generate short, engaging clips ideal for social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels. You can use the platform to add captions, images, and fonts to increase the visibility and reach of your videos.
Core features:
AI curation
AI-generated images
Animated captions
Auto reframe
Text-based editing
AI tools aren’t just for speeding things up, these innovations also allow you to focus more on important tasks. Below, we’ve listed some of the best AI tools that will help you categorize and organize important tasks and keep everything up to date.
(i) ChatSpot.ai by HubSpot
ChatSpot.ai is another powerful AI tool for businesses that’s great for marketers and go to market teams. Powered by CRM market leader HubSpot, this tool is specifically built for sales and marketers to enhance their productivity. ChatSpot.ai harnesses the capabilities of ChatGPT-3.5 and GPT-4, integrating them within HubSpot CRM.
This allows users to interact, ask queries, and give comprehensive task instructions using conversational language within a chat interface. One can send follow-up emails, pull reports, create new segments, lead management, and more with this AI assistant.
Core features:
Conversational CRM bot that improves your productivity
Assemble required CRM data directly in the chat interface
Prospecting templates to swift outreach opportunities
Create AI-generated images from texts
Enables you to delve extensively into company data
(ii) TheGist
Have you ever been overwhelmed by the number of channels, tools, apps and related notifications? Me too.
theGist is the AI productivity tool that lets you access all of the work apps within a single dashboard. With Gist’s smart inbox, you can experience a unified workspace where all your notifications and communications are consolidated. It is specifically created for Slack where you can connect all your work apps.
Core features:
Provides up-to-date data from multiple sources
Top-notch privacy and security
Set up custom alerts for specific events
Easy-to-use interface
Transform your information consumption habits and enhance productivity
(iii) Motion
Motion is a pioneering AI tool to improve business efficiency. Similar to gist, it’s designed to optimize your digital workspace and boost efficiency. Here’s where they differ: Motion leverages machine learning algorithms for smart task scheduling, automatic prioritizing, and intelligent notifications.
Its user-friendly interface and customizable settings are backed by AI, making it versatile for different work styles. Whether you're an independent professional combating procrastination or a team leader striving to enhance team productivity, Motion employs AI to help manage time and tasks more effectively.
Core features:
Task prioritization
Calendar conflict resolution
Intelligent scheduling
Team collaboration
Native integrations
(iv) Fireflies.ai
Making the most of meetings is an essential element of efficient teams and businesses. Fireflies.ai, an emerging platform in the AI landscape, is transforming the way businesses conduct meetings and interpret data. It offers an advanced AI meeting assistant that can attend calls, take notes, and provide transcriptions, effectively capturing important details and insights that could otherwise be missed.
Fireflies.ai supports all the popular apps including Google Meet, Zoom, Teams Webex, Ringcentral, and Aircall. It also offers the ability to search through your past conversations and create action items in seconds.
Core features:
Automated meeting transcription
AI-powered note-taking
Action item tracking
CRM integration
Collaboration tools
(v) Lavender.ai
With the sheer volume of emails we receive, it’s easy for important emails to get lost in a never-ending clutter. You need a tool that can not only help you write more effectively but also understand your recipients better. Lavender.ai is that platform.
This AI tool for businesses acts as a personal email assistant. It analyzes your recipient's communication style and provides real-time suggestions to match that style, optimizing communication and productivity. It also offers valuable insights about the best time to send emails based on your recipient's previous activity. Lavender.ai takes email correspondence to a new level, making it an indispensable tool for professionals seeking to secure leads.
With its intuitive interface and advanced features, Lavender.ai takes email correspondence to a new level, making it an indispensable tool for professionals seeking to improve their email efficiency and effectiveness.
Core features:
AI email coaching
Personalization assistant
Real-time optimization
Email intelligence
Sentiment analysis
Project managers have a lot on their plate. To ease things off, use these AI-powered project management tools to automate repetitive tasks and manage important projects efficiently:
(i) Asana
Asana ticks a lot of boxes for me and my team. It is designed to help cross-functional teams like ours manage goals, portfolios, and projects. With Asana’s AI, you create automated workflows, gain short summaries about the project status, identify risks, and even create reports for enhanced visibility. It also offers AI text summaries about project status and schedule subtasks, ensuring your projects stay on track. Overall, Asana is intuitive to use, helping our team optimize and manage tasks efficiently.
Core features:
Smart workflow
AI-generated text summaries
AI-powered reporting
AI-powered editor
Smart status
Cross-functional collaboration
(ii) Trello
Atlassian’s Trello is another favorite within my network. With Trello, you can keep track of your projects, goals, meetings, and tickets, all in one place. This Kanban-style project management tool has powerful AI features with no-code automated workflows that help you focus on important tasks. Whether you are from marketing, HR, or development, Trello allows you to customize your workflow. And because it integrates with your favorite apps, Trello also boosts productivity and efficiency.
Core features:
Views to help you keep track of deadlines
Butler for workflow automation
AI-powered text summaries
Template library
Integration with Slack, Jira, Google Drive, and InVision
(iii) Basecamp
Another cult favorite project management software is Basecamp. This unified platform simplifies project creation, tracking, management, and reporting for teams through automation and smart AI features. From creating message boards, card tables, and to-do lists to sending automatic check-ins, Basecamp creates an organized space for you to create, share, and discuss. With AI features, such as ‘Move the Needle’ and ‘Get the big picture view’, you can gauge a project's performance without manually piecing together all the details.
Core features:
Kanban-style project management software
One-page dashboard for all projects
AI-assisted notifications and scheduling
Real-time group chat
Integration with multiple platforms
Use the right AI tools to exponentially scale your impact
AI has transcended from its sci-fi origins to become a part of our daily lives. It offers practical solutions that are actively driving efficiency and innovation in today’s modern workplace. However, to truly create a positive ROI, you need to find the ones that fit your business context and aids in solving complex business problems. So, keep exploring, stay informed, and find ways that make sense for you to embrace the AI revolution.
