In 2025, AI tools have made my workflow soooo much more productive 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.
To keep my productivity on track and stay ahead, these 9 AI tools are the ones I use the most, almost every day:
1. Comet Browser - The AI Browser for Learning Fast
I was part of a select early group invited to try Perplexity's agents with the Comet browser. I was pretty impressed by how good the AI assistant was, as well as its ad-blocking features. When it was finally released to the public, Comet Browser quickly became my main browser.
It is built by Perplexity, which means that Perplexity Search is built in, so I can use my favourite AI search engine 24/7. However, the killer feature is that I can summarise YouTube videos and take out the key insights using Comet. This is an amazing feature because it allows you to speed watch videos, getting all the information you need, so sort of like binging a Netflix series, although you're not really watching, you're getting all the information, saving you from having to watch the whole video unless you want to.
It can feel like a cheat code if you just so happen to have a long watch list of saved videos; you no longer need to spend many hours watching something which might not be highly relevant. With Comet, I can summarise, gain insights, watch another video, and that is it.
So, if I am reading a book or researching a topic, I can open a dozen YouTube videos all at once, summarise them, and move on. There is no need for writing down notes or pausing the video, just quick learning. The AI assistant works everywhere, but if I need a standard search, I can switch back to Google at any moment. Of course, the AI assistant can do a lot more than that. I just scratched the surface. The key takeaway here is speed! Fast task completion all the time.
Try it now at https://www.perplexity.ai/comet
2. Cursor - Coding with an AI Teammate
With Cursor, I have finally found my new favourite editor when deep in code. The AI-assisted IDE, which is specifically built for developers, features the Cursor Tab, which is like gold. It is 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. Also, Cursor integrates with Codex CLI, which means GPT-5, so I always have its power right in the editor. The newest version, 2.0, of Cursor makes it the number one IDE right now, in my view. Their blog is the best place to read about it and get updates on all new features. It is, probably, the closest thing you can find to a coding partner who is program-aware and knows your entire project.
Try it now at https://cursor.com/
3. Zed - The Rust-Powered Speed Machine
Zed is yet another AI code editor that I return to a lot. It’s built using Rust, so it’s extremely quick and lightweight. Even the largest projects open quickly. Zed also works with Codex CLI for GPT-5 powered coding, much like Cursor.
However, when I simply want a pure, focused coding experience, quick edits, or coding with no lag, I return to Zed. If Cursor is like coding alongside a friend, Zed feels like speeding around in a race car on your own. Both are excellent options, and it depends on your mood or desire when deciding which one to use.
Try it now at https://zed.dev/
4. Warp Terminal - AI Meets the Command Line
Using Warp felt like a leap forward when it comes to working on the command line. With its in-built AI agents and suggestions, instead of typing "how to do X in bash" to Google, I now ask Warp itself.
Want a git command? Docker error? Warp’s got you covered. It also explains what commands are, so you learn a ton while working! You use it as a mini IDE as it manages workflows, commands, and scripts all in one location. When you have used it, switching back to a regular terminal can feel like a downgrade, although there are caveats and exceptions.
Try it now at https://www.warp.dev/
5. Codex CLI - GPT-5 in Your Terminal
Codex CLI is another great tool in coding-inspired AI. Codex CLI is built for agentic workflows, allowing you to talk to GPT-5 directly through your terminal or editor extensions. Again, I use it both inside Cursor and Zed, and it’s just as practical as having a helpful assistant around: generating files, trying to reason about your code, automating some repetitive workloads.
It’s fast and flexible, its wait time and API calls are usually not that long, and you can pair or use only your so-called ML model to keep everything quick and straightforward. If you enjoy command-line tools and some automation, then Codex is top-tier right up there with Claude Code.
Try it now at https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli/
6. Grok - The AI Engine of X (Twitter)
Grok by xAI is virtually an AI sidekick for Twitter/X. I use it to keep up to date with the latest developments in tech, AI, and other trending topics; it is like a real-time AI data analyst ready to help whenever you need it.
It is even useful in brainstorming, generating images, and is probably the best at following real-time news. If I spot a trending topic and need more information, all I do is ask Grok for the latest data, and I get it right away. Grok is like a creator or dev living on X, ensuring that you always receive the latest information.
Try it now at https://grok.com/
7. ChatGPT - The All-Rounder
You probably figured this one out. ChatGPT once again is a big part of my productivity stack. I use it for research and brainstorming, code generation, and writing. It is the most efficient way to experiment with new things, troubleshoot code, or just relax.
Additionally, with the ChatGPT Atlas browser, it’s becoming a real all-in-one workspace, combining chat, the web, code, and image generation all in one location. The real strength of ChatGPT is how it integrates into your job, whether you are collaborative, technical, or a combination of the two.
Try it now at https://chatgpt.com/
8. Claude - The Calm, Contextual Thinker
ChatGPT is my all-around assistant; Claude is just as capable in a lot of areas and easily earns a spot on my list. For writing, deep research, or reasoning over long documents or technical content, Claude excels.
Claude Code is right up there alongside Codex, and Sonnet 4.5 is still a very capable coding model.
Try it now at https://claude.ai/
9. 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. As a result, I use it to study new technologies, analyse data, or brainstorm article ideas.
It is a form of having a personal tutor who can reference PDFs, make notes, and cross-reference web sources all in a few seconds. NotebookLM saves me a whole bunch of time, much like Comet, as I can summarise large swaths of information and, in this case, turn it into a podcast to listen to at my convenience.
Try it now at https://notebooklm.google/
Conclusion
AI tools are no longer optional as they are crucial to how I and many other people do work. You might notice that every single tool takes care of a distinct piece of the puzzle; learning quicker, coding smarter, researching deeper, or just staying updated without the unnecessary noise.
In 2025, the largest productivity hack isn’t going to be more hours; it will involve using the right AI tools to make your work easier.
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