4 Current Tools in Higher Ed: Overview

So Many Choices!

When considering the use of artificial intelligence, it’s important to know that each tool has its own set of benefits and limitations.  Here’s what the Google AI search actually says about choosing the best AI tool (2025).

Choosing the “best” AI tool depends heavily on your specific needs and what you want to accomplish. Here’s a breakdown of factors to consider and some popular AI tools across different categories:

1. Define Your Needs:
   1. What do you want to achieve? Image generation, text editing, video creation, customer service automation, data analysis, etc.
   2. What is your skill level? Beginner-friendly tools might be preferable if you’re new to AI.
   3. What is your budget? Many free AI tools are available, but subscriptions unlock more features.
2. AI Image Generators:
   1. DALL-E 3: Known for its high-quality, detailed images and conversational editing.
   2. Midjourney: Popular for its artistic and aesthetically pleasing outputs.
   3. Leonardo AI: Offers a generous free plan and a good balance of features and ease of use.
   4. Canva AI Image Generator: User-friendly and great for beginners, especially if you’re already using Canva for design.
3. AI Writing Assistants:
   1. Jasper: A powerful AI platform for generating various types of marketing content, including blog articles, social media posts, and website copy.
   2. Copy.ai: Specializes in generating marketing copy and offers a free plan.
   3. Writesonic: Offers a free trial and a range of tools for creating different types of content.
   4. Grammarly: Helps improve grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
4. AI Video Editors:
   1. Synthesia: Creates videos from text, using AI avatars.
   2. Runway: Offers a wide range of AI-powered video editing and generation tools.
   3. Descript: Excellent for transcription, voice cloning, and audio editing.
   4. Canva AI Video Editor: User-friendly and integrated with Canva’s design platform.
5. AI-Powered Chatbots:
   1. ChatGPT: A versatile chatbot for various tasks, including writing, summarizing, and brainstorming.
   2. Google Bard: A conversational AI chatbot that can assist with creative writing, code generation, and information retrieval.
   3. Tidio: A customer support platform with AI-powered chatbots.
6. Other Notable AI Tools:
   1. Data Analysis: JADBio (for building machine learning models).
   2. Audio Editing: Lalal.ai (for separating audio stems).
   3. Productivity & Automation: Formaloo (for building no-code AI tools).
7. Consider Free Trials and Reviews:
   1. Free trials: Many AI tools offer free trials to test their features before committing to a subscription.
   2. User reviews: Platforms like G2 and GetApp provide user reviews and ratings for various AI tools, helping you make informed decisions.

In conclusion, the best AI tool depends on individual needs and preferences. Explore the different options, try out free trials, and read user reviews to find the perfect fit.

In ENG101, ENG102, and CRE101, consider starting with these tools.  The links will take you to websites with access and information.

ChatGPT

Research Rabbit

SciSpace

Claude AI

Perplexity