6 min read

·

Aug 30, 2024

Technology is constantly evolving and over the last few years we have been introduced to various automation and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The rapid advancements in AI have been widely recognised and have led to its inclusion in various fields including business, education, healthcare, security and defence among others.

AI in its technical sense refers to intelligence exhibited by machines (mainly computers) that develops and learns softwares while adapting to their environment to constantly update their learning and enhance performance. AI tools are created using these intricate computer systems to serve a specific purpose. AI tools have been developed to improve efficiency across various categories including:

Content creation

Grammar Checks and rewording

Video Creation and editing

Chatbots

Image generation

Voice and music generation

Knowledge management

Project management

Scheduling

Transcription

Email inbox management

Automation

Slide decks and presentation

As there are hundreds of AI tools currently available to use, it can be overwhelming to decide which is the right one for you. This article will narrow down those choices by underlining the top 5 tried and tested AI tools of 2024.

Apollo.io is a sales and engagement platform powered by AI used predominantly by B2B organisations of all sizes to identify, connect with and close deals with their ideal customers.

Apollo.io provides access to up-to-date contacts in their database and includes relevant information like email addresses, phone numbers, and LinkedIn profiles. The platform is also efficient when it comes to lead generation as users can filter leads bases on specific criteria such as industry, job title, company size, and location. The platform can also be used as a marketing tool due to its ability to automate email campaigns and follow-up communication with prospects. Moreover, Apollo.io can be integrated with widely utilised CRM systems including Salesforce and HubSpot.

While Apollo.io provides many benefits for businesses, there are few limitations of the AI powered platform. Automated email campaigns when not thoroughly monitored may lead to email deliverability issues. Moreover, over-reliance on automated communications could result in a lack of personalised interaction with potential customers. There is also a specific limit to the number of emails a business can send using the platform per day depending on their price plan.

Since it’s official launch in 2022, OpenAI’s chatbot has taken the world by storm. ChatGPT currently has over 180 million users and approximately receives over 600 million visits per month. The chatbot can be used as a virtual assistant enabling users to steer the conversation according to their preferred style, format, length, level of detail and language.

Customer support teams can use ChatGPT as a round-the-clock customer support assistant. The chatbot can also be integrated to manage automated tasks including data entry, scheduling and email communication. ChatGPT can be integrated into workflows to provide employees with internal resources like HR policies, best practice documentations and FAQ’s. ChatGPT is a versatile tool which can provide instantaneous responses to a number of tasks including content generation, writing assistance, coding, web research, customer feedback and much more.

Although ChatGPT provides a wealth of information in a matter of seconds, there is a possibility that some information may be false or inaccurate. As the model is based on training with large amounts of text data from the internet, there is a possibility that some of the responses provided may be inaccurate, biased or even offensive. When using ChatGPT for customer support tasks, users need to be cautious as the AI tool lacks the emotional intelligence of a human conversation partner. Hence, the model may be able to stimulate conversation and respond to specific queries but might not be able to identify subtle nuances in communication.

Similar to ChatGPT, DALL-E is another AI tool developed by OpenAI. The first version of the text-to-image model was launched in 2021, followed by it’s successor DALL-E 2 in 2022. The model uses natural language descriptions known as “prompts” to generate relevant digital images. DALL-E is commonly used in art and design, content creation, education, game development and marketing and advertising.

The DALL-E model is versatile in its image generation. Through inputting various keywords and textual descriptions, users can produce any type of image they require within seconds. The images can range from realistic to fantastical and can be catered towards specific industries like business, film, animation, video game or any other. The model also produces high-quality images which are visually appealing and highly detailed. DALL-E enables creators to boost their originality through describing the image they visualise in their mind and generating it in real-time. This allows designers, artists and content creators to unlock their full artistic potential.

In contrast to traditional image generation and editing tools, the DALL-E model generates images based on texts, therefore users are not in control of specific features of the image and it may prove an obstacle when editing images. Similar to most AI models, DALL-E model may be biased in its image generation based on the data the model was trained on. This could be a disadvantage for some creators as they would visualise a different image than what the model will generate.

StoryChief is a content marketing platform powered by AI used to streamline the creation, management and distribution of content across multiple channels. Marketers can utilise the platform to create various types of cost-effective content including blog posts, press releases and other campaigns.

As a content marketing platform, StoryChief possesses various benefits including acting as a centralised tool for collaboration allowing teams to create, manage and distribute marketing content all in one place. The platform also provides SEO optimisation strategies and access to multiple streams of distribution including social media, websites and email newsletters to ensure consistent forms of communication. StoryChief also provides integration with a wide range of third-party platforms including WordPress, HubSpot and many others to foster seamless workflows.

Despite the apparent benefits, StoryChief does have some limitations as an AI powered platform. The price can be relatively expensive for small business or freelancers and despite it’s wide range of customisable templates and layouts, there are limitations when it comes to templates. While StoryChief provides integrations with third-party platforms, some users may find that their preferred platforms might not be supported.

Similar to DALL-E, Typeframes is a content generation AI powered tool. However, instead of images, the tool generates videos instead. Typeframes uses textual descriptions to create wireframes and design mockups to streamline the content creation process.

Typeframes focuses on creating wireframes quickly using simplicity, allowing users to sketch out ideas and focus on user flows and structure. The tool is designed for ease of use allowing users with minimal background in the design field to quickly grasp all of its features. The platform provides access to multiple users allowing constant collaboration on projects and integration with other design tools make it convenient to export content for further use or distribution.

As Typeframes is focused on text and basic wire-framing, the tool may be limited when it comes to the latter stages of the design process. This may pose a significant disadvantage for designers who require detailed design needs.

There are various AI tools in 2024 to choose from depending on your specific requirements and goals. The five tools listed in this article are based on simplicity, ease of use, unique features, benefits and versatility to be used in various fields including business, education, healthcare, finance, entertainment, human resources and marketing and advertising.