Andrew Baisden

Posted on Nov 3, 2025 • Edited on May 15

9 Productivity Hacks - AI Tools That I'm Using in 2025

#ai #webdev #productivity #opensource

Updated, May 15th 2026

AI tools have made my workflow so much more productive in 2026 by speeding up a lot of mundane tasks. Each day, they feel like an extension of my work and creative thoughts. Whether I am coding, researching or just trying to keep up to date with this never ending stream of AI news, which keeps us all entertained and busy.

And it turns out I'm not alone. A Study.com survey of 1,000 U.S. employees found that AI tools are now firmly embedded in the modern workplace, with ChatGPT ranked #1, used by 72% of respondents for research, 64% for email, and 56% for presentations, ahead of Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Claude. It's a useful data point that shows the broader workforce is moving in the same direction.

To keep my productivity on track and stay ahead, these 9 AI tools are the ones I use the most, almost every day:

1. Grammarly: Writing Better Everywhere

Grammarly has quietly become one of the most consistently useful tools in my daily stack. I use it across my Mac and in my web browser, so it follows me everywhere, articles, emails, social posts, you name it. The spellchecking alone saves me from embarrassing typos, but where Grammarly really earns its place is in helping me improve my writing overall.

It catches awkward phrasing, suggests clearer alternatives, and flags tone issues before anything goes live. For a content creator and technical writer, having that real time second opinion baked into every text field is genuinely invaluable. It's one of those tools you stop noticing until you try to write without it.

Try it now at https://www.grammarly.com/

2. n8n: Automating My Workflows Without the Fuss

n8n is my go to for building automated workflows and connecting apps together. If you've never come across it before, think of it as a self hostable automation powerhouse. You can wire up almost any combination of services, APIs, and triggers to make repetitive tasks run themselves.

I use it to automate everything from content publishing pipelines to data syncing between tools. The visual workflow builder makes it straightforward to map out complex logic, and because it can be self hosted, you have full control over your data. For anyone who wants automation without handing everything over to a SaaS platform, n8n is hard to beat.

Try it now at https://n8n.io/

3. Zapier: Quick Integrations, No Code Required

Zapier sits alongside n8n in my automation toolkit, and the two complement each other well. Where n8n gives me depth and flexibility for more complex workflows, Zapier is where I go when I need a quick integration set up in minutes.

It connects thousands of apps out of the box, so if I need something like "when a new article is published, post a notification to Slack and log it in a spreadsheet," Zapier handles that in a few clicks. No code, no fuss. For straightforward app to app automations, it's still one of the fastest tools available.

Try it now at https://zapier.com/

4. NotebookLM: Learning and Researching at Speed

For fast learning, I have a secret weapon. NotebookLM, which Google built, enables me to digest and connect information from various documents. I use it to study new technologies, analyse data, and brainstorm article ideas.

It's a form of having a personal tutor who can reference PDFs, make notes, and cross reference web sources all in a few seconds. The real standout feature is the ability to turn your source material into a generated podcast, so I can absorb information on the go, at my own pace. NotebookLM is a genuine accelerator for anyone who needs to process a lot of information quickly, whether for research, learning, or content creation.

Try it now at https://notebooklm.google/

5. Cursor: AI Assisted Programming and Vibe Coding

With Cursor, I have finally found my favourite editor when deep in code. The AI assisted IDE, built specifically for developers, features Cursor Tab, a context aware, multi line code suggestion UI that just somehow makes sense.

Write, refactor, explore a massive codebase, or whatever you throw at Cursor, it simply gets it. The vibe coding experience here is genuinely something different. You describe what you want, and Cursor works with you to get it built. The newest version, 2.0, makes it the number one IDE in my view right now. Their blog is the best place to keep up with all new features. It's probably the closest thing you can find to a coding partner who is fully aware of your entire project.

Try it now at https://cursor.com/

6. Claude: General AI, Productivity, and Coding

Claude is a core part of my daily stack for general AI tasks, productivity work, and coding. For writing, deep research, or reasoning over long documents and technical content, Claude excels, it handles context well and produces output that tends to need less editing than most.

On the coding side, Claude Code is right up there with the best agentic coding tools available, and Sonnet 4.5 remains a very capable model for both code generation and technical problem solving. Whether I need to think through a complex problem, draft something polished, or get stuck into a codebase, Claude is one of the first places I turn.

Try it now at https://claude.ai/

7. ChatGPT: The All Rounder

ChatGPT continues to be a big part of my productivity stack. I use it for research and brainstorming, code generation, writing, and image creation. It's the most versatile option for experimenting with new ideas, troubleshooting code, or generating visuals quickly.

The image generation capabilities make it particularly useful for content work, being able to produce a decent visual without leaving the chat is a real time saver. The real strength of ChatGPT is how naturally it integrates across different types of work, whether you're being collaborative, technical, or a mix of both.

Try it now at https://chatgpt.com/

8. Gemini: Google's AI for General Tasks and Creativity

Gemini is Google's answer to the general purpose AI assistant, and it earns a place in my toolkit for the same core reasons as ChatGPT, general AI tasks, productivity work, image generation, and coding. The deep integration with Google's wider ecosystem is a genuine advantage, especially if you're already working across Drive, Docs, and Gmail.

For image generation and creative tasks, Gemini holds its own, and its coding assistance has improved steadily. Having multiple capable AI assistants available and knowing when to reach for each one is part of working smart in 2026.

Try it now at https://gemini.google.com/

9. Canva: Image Creation and Editing Made Easy

Canva rounds out the list as my go to for image creation and editing. Whether I need a banner for an article, a graphic for social media, or a polished visual asset for a client deliverable, Canva makes it fast and accessible.

The AI powered features it has added over the past couple of years, background removal, text to image generation, and design suggestions, have made it even more capable. For a content creator who isn't a dedicated graphic designer, Canva sits in a sweet spot between power and ease of use. It's the tool I reach for whenever a project needs something visual.

Try it now at https://www.canva.com/

Conclusion

AI tools are no longer optional; they are crucial to how many other people and I work. As the Study.com survey data shows, the broader workforce has reached the same conclusion. Every tool on this list takes care of a piece of the puzzle: writing more clearly, automating the repetitive stuff, learning faster, coding smarter, or creating visuals without the overhead.

In 2026, the biggest productivity hack isn't going to be more hours. It's going to be using the right AI tools to make your work easier, and knowing exactly where each one fits.