For writers

Our first feature in this category is ludwig.guru, a handy online reference tool that will bring relief to anyone who has ever spent hours on the WordReference forums searching for that one tricky expression. In essence, ludwig pores through countless amounts of books, newspapers, and other reputable sources to analyze the usage of words and expressions. If you ever write something and then ask yourself, “do people say it that way?” – ludwig will have the answer.

The search engine will also suggest better alternatives, explain the context in which your query is used, and even analyze text documents to ensure you don’t commit a literary faux pas anytime soon.

Another great text tool is Trinka: whereas ludwig is more concerned with everyday word usage, Trinka is a boon for technical writers. Aside from the basics – checking grammar, reducing word count, and other classics – it can also help maintain consistency in style and formatting (gone are the days of mismatched hyphens and dashes!) as well as proofread LaTeX code! If your needs are less on the technical side and more on the side of academic writing, you’ll be wise to go with PaperPal. In either case, the best thing about these tools is the massive degree of control they provide in deciding what you need, what to change, and how that should be done.

For researchers

Writing theses and papers can be a nerve-wracking activity – not to mention tedious. And when it comes to researching material, the ratio of effort-to-findings makes it feel similar to digging for rare gems. This, too, is where AI tools can really come in handy.

Our first pick is Research Rabbit, a platform that uses your prompts to find relevant scientific papers, trawl through citation networks, and visualize it all in convenient graphics. The amount of search filters, modifiers, and tools alone is pretty astounding! You’ll still have to read those papers yourself, of course – but, some might argue, the hardest part will already be behind you.

There are, however, ways to make this second part easier, too: enter Elicit. The service analyzes publications to summarize their findings, extract key data, and answer specific questions. To ensure accuracy and reliability, Elicit also sources its own claims with quotes from the original papers.

Last on the list is Consensus, a tool for those looking for a quick rundown on a particular issue. True to its name, the platform parses scientific writing on a given topic to identify the most common conclusions among researchers, whether it’s a question of biology, economics, or even philosophy. How do ants find their way home? Does cheese cause nightmares? With Consensus, even the most silly-sounding questions can produce serious, in-depth answers.

For would-be influencers

On your way to becoming a social media star? Well, to play the algorithm, you must trust an algorithm. Sophia Smith Galer, a journalist and online creator whose viral videos on language and etymology you may already have seen, is the creator of Sophina, a virtual scriptwriting coach for budding influencers. You bring the content – and Sophina advises you how to package it in an engaging, accessible way. The program is trained on Galer’s own work, which means it’s ethically-sourced, as well.

For more AI tool recommendations, check out our lists of the best smart services for researchers and top algorithms for scientists.