Wonder Tools

I’ve been curious lately — how might AI help my former students — and so many others looking for new jobs — in a challenging & complicated market? My conclusion: AI tools can serve as patient assistants. They can help you organize your search, reflect on career goals, and convey your strengths persuasively. Whether you're pivoting careers or moving up in your field, here's how to leverage AI to stand out and land a great opportunity.1. Explore career directions Recommended tool: Google’s Career Dreamer What it is: A career visualization tool. See a map of professional fields related to your interests. (See video demo below)How to use it: Start by typing in a current or previous role, or a type of job that interests you, using up to five words. Then optionally add the name of an organization or industry. The free service then confirms job activities of interest and shows you a variety of related career paths. Pick one at a time to explore. You can then browse current job openings, refining the search based on location, company size, or other factors you care about.Example: I’m not job hunting, but I tested out the service by typing in “journalist, writer and educator” as roles and then “journalism and education” as my industries of interest. See my quick video demo below to see the result 👇 Why it’s useful: I appreciate that Career Dreamer not only suggests a range of relevant fields, but also summarizes what a typical day in those jobs might be like. It also suggests skills you’ll develop and other jobs that might follow on that career path. Next step: After exploring potential career paths and looking at available jobs, you can jump into Gemini — Google’s equivalent of ChatGPT — for further career planning. Career Dreamer helpfully enables you to copy your career interests and skills— as a summary prompt to your clipboard. You can then jump to Gemini to paste that into a chat about your career plans. 2. Clarify your career prioritiesRecommended tool: Gemini Gem — Career Guide What it is: Gemini Gems are customized AI assistants. They are AI models tailored to be helpful in a specific context. One of the template Gems that Google created is a career guide. You can copy the Career Guide gem and edit it with your own professional interests. How to use it: Start by conducting a thorough "soul-searching" reverse interview with Gemini. Rather than Gemini answering your questions, task it to ask you the questions. Have it consistently nudge you to dig deeper into your own preferences, attitudes, objectives and needs. Then have it summarize what you’ve said. You’ll get better at understanding and articulating your own career perspectives. Try this career self-interview prompt: Give this prompt to Gemini or another AI tool of your choice to conduct a reverse interview. As Gemini — or another AI assistant— interviews you, you’ll develop a richer understanding of your own job preferences.Next steps: Use your Gemini Gem AI assistant throughout your job search to help clarify your own objectives and strengths, and to support you in developing your job search strategy. 3. Research target companiesRecommended tool: ChatGPT Deep Research What it’s useful for: Unlike typical AI chat queries, Deep Research requests enable an AI model to autonomously develop an exhaustive report after searching the Web, examining hundreds of sites and other research resources, and completing a detailed, multi-step analysis. See 9 ways to use Deep Research. You can use these personalized reports to learn more about industries of interest and specific aspects of companies that intrigue you. How to use it: Toggle on the “Deep Research” button in the ChatGPT box. Type a detailed query with your specific interests, skills, and the types of organizations you're curious about. Request a comprehensive table of relevant companies with detailed information about culture, growth trajectories, or whatever else.Example: Here’s a journalism industry query for Deep Research you can adapt for your own exploration. Benefits: Learn valuable context about companies you may apply to — and discover new organizations you weren’t aware of. Use this research to tailor your applications and to prepare for interviews by understanding industry trends.Pricing note: You get five free Deep Research queries a month on ChatGPT’s free plan, as of May 2025, or more on a paid plan. Gemini offers a good free Deep Research alternative. Perplexity also offers free Deep Research reports, though they’re not as thorough. Alternative tools: Exa’s Websets is a powerful—and pricey—new pro AI search tool that organizes results into a detailed table. It can draw on datasets like these, helping you identify great companies to target based on your own criteria.4. Organize your search Recommended tool: ChatGPT Projects What it does: Lets you set up a dedicated AI folder for your career search. You can provide instructions and resource files so that every chat you have in this project takes into account the relevant context of your job search. How to use it: Provide detailed instructions for how you’d like the AI assistant to help. Try having it guide you in building a realistic timeline for preparing applications, sending follow-ups, and reaching out for informational interviews. Ask it to assist you in designing a structured daily job search agenda. If you’re applying to many different positions and have lots of tasks to juggle, it can help to organize your plans. (Tools like Career Flow - not yet tested— also promise to assist with automated job tracking).Advanced tactic: You can upload examples of your past outreach messages or other writings as project resources. That will enable the AI assistant to help you draft new emails in your own style, whether you’re letting people know you’re open to new opportunities or reaching out to new contacts. Organize your job search tasks: ChatGPT’s “Scheduled Tasks" feature can help by sending you custom reminders. That could include an automated daily reminder of specific tasks to complete to maintain momentum. You can even ask it to periodically send encouraging messages to keep you inspired throughout what can be a lengthy, stressful process. Free alternative: ChatGPT’s Projects require a paid plan, which starts at $20/month. For a free alternative, create a Gemini Gem with similar functionality. 5. Polish your job application materialsRecommended Tool: Claude Projects What it does: Gives you personalized AI assistance to help polish any materials you’re creating. Give it specific instructions and upload background documents to ensure that it understands your preferences, strengths, and style. I have Claude Projects set up to assist with most of the things work on, from new classes I’m developing to volunteering projects. Here’s why I recommend this.How to use it: Upload past cover letters, resumes, lists of accomplishments, awards, vision statements or anything else you’ve created that you might want to build on for a new application. In your project instructions, guide the AI to maintain your authentic voice as represented in your prior writings. * Ask for feedback on writing you’re submitting, with prompts that specify the kinds of input that will be most useful, from grammar, spelling, and syntax suggestions to warnings about exaggerations, cliches, jargon, or redundancy. * Request suggestions for additional information to include based on the job descriptions you're targeting. Using the personalized AI assistant for feedback allows you to highlight your unique human value, avoiding generic AI-generated content.Alternatives* ChatGPT’s Projects & Custom GPTs have similar functionality. You can add resource files and instructions to adjust how the AI assistants support you.* Perplexity Spaces also allow you to organize prompt threads and add custom documents and instructions. * Gemini Gems, noted above, offer a free alternative. I prefer the quality of Claude’s responses and some of its features, like a custom editing style I’ve trained it to use. 6. Practice for interviews Recommended tool: ChatGPT Advanced Voice ModeHow to use it: Brainstorm interview questions specific to your target role, industry, and even the particular company you're applying to. Then practice answering these questions using voice mode for a realistic simulation. Build your confidence by practicing how you’ll answer various questions. Read more about 7 ways to use Advanced Voice Mode.Ask for detailed feedback on your responses. Prompt your voice assistant to highlight strong points and suggest areas for improvement. Ask it to be as specific as possible and to help you practice strengthening your responses. Ask it to help you prepare for whatever interview context you expect to encounter, from technical questions and case studies to fact-based questions or casual, open-ended lunch conversations.Pricing: Full access to ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode requires a paid plan, but free users can access a daily preview of advanced voice mode powered by a model slightly less advanced than the top paid models. Alternatives* Microsoft Copilot Voice is now completely free. Choose from eight voices. You can even adjust the voice speed. I like Wave, with his British-sounding accent, at 1.25 speed. * Gemini Live from Google is also an excellent voice AI assistant. Like ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode, it can even use computer vision to comment on something you show it. Initiate a conversation while pointing your phone camera at a company’s leadership org chart, for example, or public balance sheet, or a list of questions you’ve handwritten. Bonus tip: If your job search involves speaking or understanding multiple languages, you can use these voice models to practice speaking or listening in any number of tongues. It’s a great way to practice live language skills. 7. Negotiate your salaryRecommended tool: Deep Research (from Perplexity, Gemini, or ChatGPT)How to use it: Research average salaries for similar positions in your industry, accounting for variables like location, company size, and experience level. Generate comprehensive salary data in table format so you’re ready to offer a data-backed rationale for your negotiating points. You can also research relevant benefits, company culture, and other factors. I’m not actually looking for a job, but I generated these reports so you could compare real Deep Research results. Compare the Deep Research salary reports: * Perplexity Report + original Perplexity thread* ChatGPT Report* Gemini ReportPractice negotiating: Use the aforementioned voice AI tools to role-play negotiations or to prepare for difficult benefits conversations. Practice responding to everything from a surprise dream offer to one that’s below your market value.More ways to use AI in your job search* Put together a video reel Eddie AI can streamline how you create a highlight reel where you need visuals showing how you stand out. Here’s why I like it. * Make a great deck Gamma, Beautiful.ai, Pitch, and the brand-new Chronicle are great tools for turning talking points into polished slide presentations. * Others I’m learning about: Check out Aakash Gupta’s list of AI job search tools, including Poised (interview feedback). 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The AI search landscape is transforming at breakneck speed. New "Deep Research" tools from ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity autonomously search and gather information from dozens — even hundreds — of sites, then analyze and synthesize it to produce comprehensive reports. While a human might take days or weeks to produce these 30-page citation-backed reports, AI Deep Research reports are ready in minutes.What’s in this post * Examples of each report type I generated for my research, so you can form your own impressions.* Tips on why & how to use Deep Research and how to craft effective queries.* Comparison of key features and strengths/limitations of the top platforms.What’s new about Deep Research? Traditional AI queries deliver isolated answers to specific questions, while Deep Research tools conduct sophisticated investigations with dozens of interconnected searches. It’s like the difference between a quick reference check and a thorough research expedition.Why this matters for you: It’s now easy to generate your own reports to immediately advance work projects. ChatGPT’s Deep Research, the best I’ve tried so far, is now available on free accounts, with a limit of five reports per month. How to get started: After reading the guide below, customize a query for one of the AI models reviewed here. Start with one of the report types suggested below. First toggle on the “Deep Research” setting: Pick a work topic or any subject you’re curious about. Read through the resulting report and iterate on your query to get an even more useful second response. You’ll soon have a new research superpower to deploy anytime you need to dig deep into a complex subject. Security & privacy: When using AI platforms avoid sharing sensitive data, which can leak. Adjust settings so your data isn’t retained to train future models. Take the same precautions for AI Deep Research you’d adopt for other AI queries. Hallucinations? I expected substantial nonsense to pollute the reports. But extensive in-line citations help with verification and I’ve found fewer errors than I expected. Still, for subjects where data is sparse, autonomous research reports occasionally include weak sourcing, so keep an eye out for that. 9 Practical Ways to Use AI for Deep ResearchAI research tools shine when you need comprehensive information on complex topics. Here are specific use cases where they excel:1. Craft Custom Itineraries ✈️ Create detailed, personalized travel plans by specifying your destination, dates, activity preferences, budget, cultural interests, and whatever else is important to you. These AI-generated itineraries often surface unexpected gems. When planning a family trip recently, my wife and I discovered a fantastic farm stay in Pennsylvania through a Perplexity query. We wouldn't have found it otherwise. Use the results as a starting point to identify interesting possibilities, then follow up with targeted research.* Specify dietary preferences, accessibility needs, and your taste in accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment, for more tailored recommendations. I’ve saved a block of text about this to reuse. * Use follow-up queries to get more specifics on attractions or activities that appeal to you, or to compare and contrast potential itineraries.Example: Deep Research itinerary for a family vacation in Brookline, MA. Compare results from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Copilot. Note: If you spot errors in reports I’m sharing in this post, feel free to annotate the GDocs.2. Compile Organization Reports 📈Get comprehensive backgrounders on companies, non-profits, or any organization in minutes rather than clicking through dozens of search results. * Compare similar organizations or competitors* Specify format. Maybe you’d like a case study format, a topical report, a chronological history, or an industry context analysis.* Specify metrics of interest like funding history, revenue growth patterns, leadership changes, media coverage trends, law suits, or anything else you care about. For closely-held private organizations data may be scarce, so read results skeptically.* Advanced tip: Copy excerpts from Deep Research reports into Claude to transform them into visual dashboards— including charts and interactive elements— using Claude Artifacts. You can share those with colleagues. Watch: 📺 Grace Leung’s helpful video illustrates how and why to try this. Example: Deep Research report on Trader Joe’s 3. Research Notable People 🧓Explore backgrounds of news figures, historical personalities, or even fictional characters. Request specific information like podcast appearances, YouTube videos, or published works to build a well-rounded understanding of the individual.* Ask about connections between the person and influential contemporaries* Ask for lesser-known background details or contributions often overlooked * Specify time periods to focus on particular life phases or epochs🔎 Example: Deep Research on Michel de Montaigne4. Explore Complex Concepts 🧠 Learn about complex topics in any field — from botany 🌿 to venture capital 💰— with AI-structured explanations tailored to your knowledge level. * Ask for real-world examples, analogies, anecdotes, quotes, common misconceptions, and step-by-step explanations. * Ask for quiz or discussion questions to test your understanding. * After reading the report, generate an AI tutor with a Custom GPT, Gemini Gem, or Poe bot to further strengthen your understanding.🔎 Example: Applications for AI in medical diagnosis via Gemini & Perplexity5. Discover Places in Depth 🌍Investigate a place’s historical significance, cultural development, architecture, art, music, literature, or economic, social, or political history. I find this richer, personalized context can feel more resonant than a more generic travel guide.* Ask about little-known local events, hidden gems, or notable personalities* Specify your interest in fashion, architecture, history, sports, or whatever else* Products too: Get a backgrounder on a new type of oven 🧑‍🍳 you’re considering, or pianos 🎹 that might suit your home. 🔎 Example: Help me learn about Coolidge Corner in Brookline, Massachusetts6. Analyze Debates and Controversies 🤔Explore complex controversies from multiple perspectives. Examine international conflicts, ethical debates, or local issues. Deep Research reports can present multiple viewpoints with examples and evidence to deepen your understanding of nuances. You can also ask for notable quotes and an annotated reading list.* Ask how the debate has evolved over time and who has been involved * Specify that you want evidence-based arguments from multiple disciplines* Ask for areas of common ground between opposing viewpoints🔎 Example: Is generative art revolutionizing creativity — or devaluing it? 7. Decode Cultural Works 🎶 🎨Gain insights into books, paintings, music, or other creative works by exploring critical analyses, historical context, and expert interpretations. This works particularly well when you're in the middle of reading a book or have just encountered an intriguing piece of art. At the Metropolitan 🖼️ Museum of Art last week, I saw Tang Dynasty zodiac figurines and asked AI to help me learn about them. (More info & a generated image). Caveat: as a non-expert learning about something new, I’m not always in a strong position to assess the merits of AI analysis. When in doubt, it’s helpful to have cited sources for gauging the quality of the information. * Request info about a work's influence on subsequent artists or movements* Ask for analysis of technical innovations or stylistic elements* Compare interpretations of the book, play, poem, art, or piece of music from different time periods or cultural contexts🔎 Example: Help me deepen my appreciation of Mozart’s 5th Violin Concerto8. Explore Evolving Trends 👗Investigate linguistic, political, fashion, sports, arts, business, or cultural trends in a particular place or time period, or compare trends across cultures. * Ask for predictive insights about how the trend might evolve* Include in your prompt questions about counter-trends or critics* Request data visualizations if the trend has quantitative aspects, e.g. the Beanie Baby craze 🔎 Example: What are top AI training programs for journalists around the world?9. Examine Historical Context 📝Explore historical events through multiple lenses - political, economic, social, and cultural. Direct your AI research assistant to focus on specific date ranges, if relevant. Ask it draw from diverse sources across countries and perspectives.* Request primary source recommendations* Ask for comparisons across countries, regions or time periods* Specify your prior knowledge so the report is tailored for your context🔎 Example: Help me learn more about the history of the Dozier School for BoysWhen Deep Research isn't your best option ⚠️ Use other tools when you’re not looking for a comprehensive research report, but instead want something quick, or for:* Simple factual questions like award winners or sports results are better addressed with basic Google or Perplexity searches* Breaking news where online info is limited* Multimedia searches may work better with specialized search engines, like Listen Notes for finding someone’s podcast appearances* Paywalls If the open Web lacks relevant info, don’t expect miraclesFurther Caveats* Keep an eye out for errors. Verify info in these reports. The presence of citations doesn’t guarantee accuracy. For example, some sources may publish estimates that get treated by an AI search agent as definitive data.* Research is only as good as its sources. Some subjects lack extensive source material. AI research reports may, in such cases, rely heavily on publishers with flimsy fact-checking or an axe to grind.* The bottom line: Check the source list before diving into a report. When you know of high quality sources, reference them in your prompt. This Claude thread helped me include high-quality sources for my Trader Joe’s inquiry. How to strengthen Deep Research queries 💡 The quality of your prompt significantly impacts your results:Be detailed about your topic, reasons for interest, and how you'll use the informationUnlike standard Google searches where you only provide keywords, deep research queries benefit from detailed direction. Guide your AI research assistant on specific areas of focus, recommended sourcing, prior context, and formatting: how best to present its findings.Specify your preferred tone & format —tables, lists, pros/cons, bulletsRequest tables for comparing options, pro/con lists for debates, or categorized lists for resources like podcasts, videos, and books. You can even customize language complexity—graduate-level analysis vs beginner-friendly simplicity.Provide context about your existing knowledge and audienceMention what you already know. If you’ll be sharing a report with colleagues, clarify that specific audience’s context. If you want something brief, say so.Be patient. Quality research isn’t instant. While Gemini and Perplexity typically deliver results within a few minutes, ChatGPT's deeper analysis can take a half hour. The thoroughness of these results justifies the wait vs. instant but shallower search results.Top Tools for AI Deep Research 🧐ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity are the three most useful tools I’ve tested for deep research. All work on desktop and mobile and can be used for free. Paid vs free tiers: Paid Gemini and ChatGPT users ($20/month) get access to higher-quality models than free users. Perplexity Pro users ($20/month) avoid the free account limit of three research queries per day.ChatGPT Deep Research * Strengths: Most thorough results of any platform I tested. it can generate 30 to 50-page comprehensive reports customized for your needs.* Limitations: Results can sometimes take 30 minutes.* Cost: Free ChatGPT users get 5 queries per month, as of April 24, 2025. Plus, Team, Enterprise, and Edu users get 25 queries per month. Pro users get 250.* More guidance: Read ChatGPT’s Deep Research introduction and watch Andy Stapleton’s YouTube video on how to use it to save research time.Gemini Deep Research* Strengths: Available even on free accounts; you can generate instant, free, shareable audio overviews summarizing your findings, akin to what NotebookLM produces; handy button lets you immediately export results into a Google Doc; you can edit Gemini’s research plan after it responds to your initial prompt, giving you additional agency after the initial prompt. * Limitations: Reports aren’t quite as thorough as those from ChatGPT * Cost: Free to use, though Pro users get access to a stronger 2.5 model. Pro access is temporarily free for students with an edu address. Apply here. * More guidance: Google’s Gemini Deep Research overview, and 6 tips for getting the most of itPerplexity Deep Research * Strengths: Fast results in under 3 minutes, detailed citations that you can copy/paste with the content into a doc for editing or further research. Helpful follow-up questions are provided or you can ask your own follow-ups. * Limitations: Less thorough than ChatGPT's deep dives * Cost: Free for 3 uses a day, or unlimited for Pro * More guidance: Perplexity’s Deep Research overviewWhat insights or challenges have you encountered with Deep Research? Leave a comment below to share your experience.👇 Get full access to Wonder Tools at wondertools.substack.com/subscribe

I wrote the first Wonder Tools post in April 2020 to help journalists and educators navigate the pandemic shift to remote work. I was sick and feeling isolated. I wanted to focus on something bright in that dark moment. Five years, 265 posts, and 200,000 words later, the newsletter’s archive documents what I’ve found useful for creative productivity. My aim has been to be relentlessly practical, not theoretical, and to help people make the most of technology. Here’s a snapshot of some numbers, lessons, & highlights. By the numbers: Wonder Tools' first five years637 apps on my phone. I only use 10% of them regularly, and another 10% occasionally.219 apps on my laptop, about a third of which I use often. ~$300 monthly software subscription costs.~3,500 reader emails answered. Most of my replies are quick personal hellos to new readers who have responded to my welcome email. I also often answer questions, whether about apps for scanning a family photo album or research resources for work. ~200,000 words written, many on Sundays and then Wednesday nights, when sentences composed earlier beg for revision.~137 tools tested but not featured because they weren't worth your time. 65,000+ tech-curious people from 201 countries subscribe to Wonder Tools, growing at ~3% a month. 277 Substack newsletters recommend Wonder Tools. Half of the current readership found this newsletter through a recommendation. ~2,000+ hours spent researching, testing, writing, editing, and publishing.265 posts on AI, note-taking, productivity apps, focus tactics, and myriad other aspects of our digital lives at home and work. What I’ve learned to be true Utility beats pontificationHeadlines and hot takes are widely available elsewhere. Instead of offering musings or abstract analysis, I prioritize practical guidance about how to make the most of digital tools. The 100 to 1 rule: For every minute you spend reading a post, I spend 100 creating it. Each phase takes time: research, experimentation, interviewing, outlining, writing, rewriting, editing, proofreading, designing visuals, and publishing. Survival of the fittest: I often prep several versions of a post — or drafts on multiple topics — before settling on a publishable piece. The hardest part? Converting various notes, ideas, and experiments into a clear, concise, readable— and hopefully relevant— narrative. Confronting the cold start problem: Voice AI apps — like Letterly — have helped me overcome blank pages. I can start with unstructured oral musings, then edit my jumble into shape. Consistent publishing requires sacrificeSpending hours each week on a passion project like this requires tradeoffs. I devote less time to streaming, social media, and watching sports than before starting this. I also read fewer magazines. There’s no free lunch. Most apps fail the endurance test 📆If I don’t use a tool regularly after initially exploring it, I usually don’t write about it. Lots of services have disappeared from my workflow over time. Sustainable utility is often evident only after a few months. Readers supply lots of terrific tips 💌Ideogram, Raycast, Eagle, and other apps I now rely on came from subscriber suggestions. I also explore discovery hubs to experiment with new tools, some of which I end up writing about.I delete more words than I publish ✂️The hardest part of writing is subtracting. What’s omitted is more important than what’s included. When I’m nearly done with a post, I edit out 10%. I learned that in college from John McPhee. The next 122 tools on my radar 🔭My near-term exploration list includes 122 sites and apps I’ll try out over the next few months. My backlog includes 328 services I’m curious about. In the early days of this newsletter, I wondered when I’d run out of writing material. Now I wonder how to keep up with even a fraction of the emerging services. Wonder Tools readers are biologists, bakers, and bowling coaches 🎳 … from tech novices to legendary pros. I originally envisioned this newsletter serving journalists and educators, but the readership has broadened. Every week I hear from readers who work in all sorts of fields around the world. From top political officials to online celebrities, I’ve been surprised by who pops up on the subscriber list. When I started my journalism career in Newsweek’s letters department, I spent my days reading missives to the editor. Now the middleman is gone, and I relish the opportunity to correspond directly with readers. So email me or message me on Substack. I’d be happy to hear from you. Sitting in my New York City kitchen, it’s exciting to hear about a new book from a retired South African engineer or about a new data analysis tool from a math teacher in Iowa. I’m now keenly aware of our common global need for smart digital tools that enhance our screen-based work. Wonder Tools is reader-supported. To receive upcoming posts by email, consider a free or paid subscription to support this newsletter.3 of the most widely-read past posts👇 My hall of fame tool list 💎After five years of testing hundreds of tools, my enduring favorites are those I rely on consistently and frequently recommend. I would be sorely disappointed if any of these disappeared. * Craft is my go-to for creating visual documents and handouts. [Read more]* Perplexity delivers relevant, citation-backed responses to queries, not just links, making it my preferred search tool for gathering actionable info quickly. [Read more]* Claude has become a valuable thinking partner for brainstorming ideas, proofreading drafts, developing project plans, and creating SEO description text and alt-text for my posts. [Read more]* Letterly transformed how I overcome writer's block by letting me talk out my ideas and transform rough early thoughts into editable drafts. [Read more]* ChatGPT remains my AI Swiss Army knife. It helps with everything from generating illustrations to assisting with structuring lesson plans. [Read more]* NotebookLM helps me extract insights from my notes, documents, links, and recordings. It creates text and audio summaries, draws connections between ideas, assists with timelines, and avoids hallucination, remaining grounded in my materials and providing citations for verification. [Read more]* Google Docs remains a reliable workhorse. Its collaboration features and ease of use make it indispensable. [Read more]* Wakeout, which I use almost daily, is my favorite app for movement breaks.* Substack enabled Wonder Tools to become a sustainable project by facilitating its creation, distribution, and monetization, and by building a network for writers to recommend one another’s work. p.s. these services I wrote about are no longer around: Get full access to Wonder Tools at wondertools.substack.com/subscribe

Discover a tech arsenal that powers afternoons and evenings. From mindfulness apps like Healthy Minds for quick mental breaks to Libby for free audiobooks during commutes, there's something for everyone. Plus, explore helpful restaurant reservation platforms like Resy and OpenTable. Learn about unique fitness tools, including a surprising video game for workouts. This is all about enhancing productivity, relaxation, and fun, ensuring a fulfilling end to your day!

Discover a fascinating morning routine that balances wellness and productivity! The speaker shares insights on using the Oura Ring to monitor sleep and energy levels. Enjoy breakfast games like Wordle with family as a fun alternative to news. A TickTime Cube Timer helps keep exercises short and effective, ensuring consistency. Dive into practical tips to enhance focus and creativity while managing your digital workflow from dawn till lunch.

Discover the hidden gem that is Raycast, a productivity powerhouse for Mac users. This app allows you to manage tasks, perform quick calculations, and even access your clipboard history—all without your mouse! Learn how to create text shortcuts to save time and streamline your workflow. It’s not just about efficiency; it’s about reclaiming precious minutes for what truly matters, be it deep work or family time. Plus, find out about its upcoming compatibility with iOS and Windows!

OpenAI just made the most significant leap in image generation I've seen over the past year. You can now type a simple prompt using ChatGPT 4o and create a remarkable photo illustration, infographic, cartoon, or just about any other visual.What makes this special? * Versatility. Create nearly any kind of visual you can imagine. * Intelligence. The AI understands your intent based on an ongoing chat thread and its understanding of the world, rather than just focusing on prompt phrases. That means you don’t have to master technical lingo or explain common concepts.* Continuity. You can create variations on any image and use consistent characters or styles for ongoing stories, presentations, or projects. * Text. I’ve been amazed at the rendering of vast amounts of text inside images, as in the parking sign above. Other AI tools struggle with more than a few words. It’s available for all ChatGPT users, whether you’re on a free or paid plan, on any platform. Read on for how to make the most of it, limitations, and alternatives.7 ways to use ChatGPT's new image AICartoons I've always wanted to draw cartoons but never had the skill. Now I can quickly prototype visual sequences. While human cartoonists bring unique creativity that AI can't replicate, this tech allows anyone to experiment.Infographics What impressed me most as I beta tested this model in recent weeks was its extraordinary level of nuance, detail and text accuracy. I created explanatory infographics for AI learners and music appreciation students. If you've spent hours building infographics or relied on stock, this may be a turning point. Caveat: The model sometimes struggles to accurately render text in non-Latin languages. Posters Create event ads, announcements, social posts, or signage without having to rely on a template. Quickly test out visual ideas that might otherwise take hours to flesh out. Slides Generate compelling images for presentations. Create wide or tall slides with big words or numbers, stylish quotes, or clarifying flowcharts. You can now use ChatGPT for help with planning a deck and designing its slides. Determining the purpose, structure, style, approach, and delivery is still your human role. Illustrations While DALL-E 3 (ChatGPT's previous image tool) worked well for some illustrations, this new 4o image generation opens up a broader range of styles, including conceptual images (like this) for blog posts, newsletters, or videos. StoriesIf you write fiction or poetry, you can now generate consistent character images. I’m delighted to be able to experiment with illustration styles for fan fiction I’m working on with my daughters based on the "Not Quite Human" series about a robot disguised as a human teenager.Designs Create icons, logos, or micro-illustrations for your projects. You can ask for multiple versions of a design in different styles, then build on the one you prefer.How to prompt ChatGPT 4o for great images1. Iterate through conversation Unlike other image generators that require a new prompt each time, ChatGPT 4o now enables an ongoing revision dialogue. Ask it to change styles, adjust elements, or create multiple related images. Caveat: asking for a correction on one element sometimes results in unexpected changes to other parts of an image. And ChatGPT will refuse some requests on content policy grounds.2. Upload reference images The multimodal nature of the model helps it understand and incorporate elements from images you share. I uploaded an image from a well-designed invitation and used it as inspiration for a private book group visual. 3. Prompt for prompts Use ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini as a thought partner to suggest effective ideas or prompts based on your goals. This meta-approach helps you broaden your ideation.4. Compare across services Even with this major advancement, it's worth testing your prompts in other services, like the ones noted below, to see how results differ and which model works best for a particular project. 5. Save winning prompts When you find a formula that works well for the kind of images you'll want to generate repeatedly, save it. A snippet manager like Raycast, Alfred, or TextBlaze makes saving and reusing these prompts easy. Once created, you can just type "\illo" — or whatever keyboard shortcut you choose — to paste in your favorite illustration prompt. This allows you to add custom details while keeping your base prompt intact.LimitationsOpenAI has acknowledged several technical limitations of the new image generation model in their surprisingly candid launch post. 1. Cropping challenges When creating wide or tall infographics or slides, the AI sometimes misjudges dimensions, resulting in cut-off text or images. You may need to prompt again to fit all content properly.2. Complex information hallucinations For complicated requests like showing all elements in the periodic table, ChatGPT may struggle to track more than 10-20 items and hallucinate imaginary elements to fill gaps.3. Precise editing difficulties When you try to edit specific parts of an image, it might struggle with precision, either failing to make the requested change or altering too much. 4. Slow I feel guilty for commenting on speed for something this magical. But it can take one to two minutes to generate images, which is 10x as slow as image generation on Ideogram or other platforms. If you’re interested in ethical considerations associated with AI image generation, watch this Ted Talk by Ed Newton Rex, founder of Fairly Trained, a non-profit that certifies generative AI companies that respect creators’ rights. Then watch a counterargument from artist Greg Lookerse. Strong alternatives* Ideogram also launched its new version (3.0) this week. It’s terrific, especially for abstract or metaphorical images, or for merging text with striking graphics like this. [See what I like about Ideogram.] Unlike ChatGPT, Ideogram has a menu for specifying an image’s dimensions and color palettes. And you can choose from four distinct image renderings. Ideogram can’t accurately produce lengthy text inside images like ChatGPT, though, and it lacks other advanced capabilities. For now I'll continue paying $8/month for Ideogram, though the calculus is quickly changing. * Adobe Firefly has a new standalone site. Its model is trained exclusively on material it obtained permission to use, making it a good choice for commercial projects. [See its ethics page]. * Reve is another great new AI image generation model that launched this week out of Silicon Valley. It renders typography well and abstract imagery like this. I like how you can modify images generated for you with a simple text prompt.What image generation tools have you been experimenting with, and how? 👇 Special offer: reader discount on Letterly until April 1I use Letterly to get past writer’s block, for journaling, and for ideation. It transcribes my rambling and reformats it into organized text. I use Letterly so much that its founders and I compiled a list of 50 ways to use the app.Letterly’s founder is offering a lifetime deal specifically for Wonder Tools readers. Instead of paying for an annual $80 Letterly subscription, you can pay $149 once for lifetime access. You can get it through this unique link. The deal will be briefly active, just until April 1st at 11:59pm PST. * Works on iPhone, Android, Mac, Web, iPad* Unlimited recordings, transcriptions, and rewrites* 90+ auto-recognized languages* Record online or offline; widget for quick captures; screen-off recording* 14-day money-back guarantee. You can cancel if it’s not useful for you. * You won't find this deal elsewhere online. * Transparency note: The link above is an affiliate link, so I get a small commission if you purchase through it to help fund Wonder Tools. I’m sharing this because I rely on Letterly and you might find it useful too. Sponsored messageUnlock 5,000+ ChatGPT Prompts & Supercharge Your Productivity with AIInstantly access 5,000+ ChatGPT prompts and quick, actionable AI productivity tips. Trusted by 120,000+ subscribers.Join Cyber Corsairs free AI productivity newsletter and boost your efficiency.Ready to increase your productivity? It's your turn to get smarter with AI.Join Free Now → Get full access to Wonder Tools at wondertools.substack.com/subscribe

In this discussion, Jeremy Kaplan, an educator at CUNY and creator of the Wonder Tools newsletter, shares his insights on the transformative power of AI in professional environments. He highlights tools like Perplexity, which offers concise summaries for quick understanding, and NotebookLM, enhancing research efficiency by anchoring responses in user context. Kaplan elaborates on AI as a creativity multiplier, emphasizing its potential to boost communication and productivity, while also addressing the challenges of slow adoption in education and work.

Hundreds of AI tools emerge every week. I’ve picked five new ones worth exploring. They’re free to try, easy to use, and signal new directions for useful AI. 1. Sesame ⚡️ Talk with a surprisingly lifelike AI Of all the AI bots I’ve communicated with, this one sounds the most lifelike. Pick either Maya or Miles to talk with for free in Sesame’s conversational demo. Try one of these topics. You can download your conversation afterwards. It’s deleted from the company’s servers within 30 days to protect your privacy. I’ll keep an eye on this company: Sesame aims to build “an ever-present brilliant friend and conversationalist, keeping you informed and organized, helping you be a better version of yourself.” Another intriguing new AI conversationalist: I’m also intrigued by my experiments with Natura Umana’s “AI people.” Rather than one AI bot that covers everything, the NatureOS ecosystem hosts multiple conversational bots, each with a different focus. I’ve talked with Hector about well-being and Athena about fitness. The NatureOS interestingly includes hardware, so you can summon these lifelike AI characters with a quick tap of special earbuds. (See a video demo).2. Convergence 🎯 Assign tasks to an AI agent Ask Convergence’s AI agent to buy groceries for you, find a gift on Amazon, get you a restaurant reservation, research what people say about your company, or do any number of other tasks. This is just one of many new AI agents trained to use a Web browser for you, and none are yet fully reliable. When I tasked Convergence with making a list of LinkedIn profiles of speakers at the upcoming Perugia International Journalism festival, it got some right and many wrong. With simpler tasks your odds of success are higher. You can request up to five tasks for free per day, or pay $20/month for an unlimited number of tasks. 3. Scribe 🖋️ Transcribe super accurately. Temporarily freeUntil April 9, Scribe — a remarkably accurate new transcription model from ElevenLabs — is completely free. In my tests it got the names of websites right, — — most transcription tools get those wrong. It also captured tiny speech nuances so well that I’d recommend this over other tools for anything requiring top accuracy. It works in 99 languages. 4. Google Career Dreamer 🚀 Imagine a new job Dream up potential new directions for your career with this simple, well-designed free site. You don’t have to log in, enter your name, or share any personal info. Just type in the kind of work you do and confirm whether you have certain skills and interests. Add your education if you want. The AI immediately gives you a “career identity statement” and shows you a map of jobs that might interest you. Hover over any to learn more about them. You can even open up nearby job openings in that field. You can then jump to Gemini, Google’s alternative to ChatGPT, to work on a cover letter or continue your career ideation. Gems are now free You can now create a free Gemini “Gem,” which is an AI tool customized with your specific instructions and up to 10 documents you upload. It’s Google’s answer to ChatGPT’s Custom GPTs. Try this: Create a new “Career Gem” by uploading your resume, past cover letters, career planning docs, and any other relevant materials. Provide instructions if you have a particular style, language, or approach in mind. This new trained AI assistant you’ve customized can then help you anytime you return to it to refine a cover letter, update your resume, practice for an interview, or even brainstorm career ideas. Alternative: You can use Google’s default “Career Guide” gem without uploading anything, but it’s not personalized.5. Adobe Enhance Speech 🎙️ Improve audioAdobe recently upgraded its audio cleanup tool. Upload any audio recording with background noise and immediately get a clean version to download. There are new sliders for adjusting the enhancement and background noise. You can then use Adobe Podcast to edit the cleaned audio by trimming the transcript just as you would in a Google Doc. It now works for recordings in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and English.If you’re making a podcast, you can choose from royalty-free sound collections with intros, outros, transition sounds, and background music. It’s free to try for a month and included with existing Adobe subscriptions. Catch up on recent posts 👇 Peek inside Shannon Almeida’s toolkitI love learning how creative people do the work they’re most proud of. I’m curious about the tools they rely on, so I’ve been interviewing people to discover more about their workflows. Below is an example:Meet Shannon: After growing up in Mumbai and studying finance and economics at Boston University, Shannon co-founded multiple ventures, including Benefactory and Volv, a social news app that delivers nine-second article reads.Tool Philosophy: Less is More “I'm about making the best out of the least amount of things because life is overwhelming enough. It's about how to make my life as simple as possible.”Favorite Tool: Endel Shannon says the Endel sound app’s "sorcery" has transformed her productivity. She relies on its focus sounds in 25-minute increments throughout her workday. It helps her block out external distractions.Her 4 daily tools * Apple Notes serves as Shannon’s morning “brain dump” destination for capturing thoughts and tasks before organizing them elsewhere* Apple’s iCal acts as her primary calendar, connecting to all her Google accounts* Notion functions as her "second brain," with multiple databases for learning projects, life management, and product research* Meco keeps her email inbox clean by redirecting newsletter subscriptions to a dedicated app, with customized notifications for favoritesBiggest workflow challengeSaving content across platforms. Saving screenshots and social posts is tricky, Shannon says, because these either get stuck online or pile up in her camera roll. Transferring valuable content to Notion requires 30-minute weekly sessions.Current CuriosityHow culture, design and technology shape consumer needs in the economy, particularly how brands can develop long-term identity in an era dominated by algorithmic taste-making.Shannon recommends* Newsletters: Puck Line Sheet & What I’m Hearing by Lauren Sherman, Matt Belloni and others* Books: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster by Dana Thomas, and The Politics of Aesthetics by Jacques Rancière* TV & Music: White Lotus and Doechii* Podcast: "Fashion Neurosis" with Bella Freud. The appeal? Fashion designers lying down (as if in therapy) to discuss their mindsets, not their collections.What’s in your toolkit?Share the top tools in your toolkit in a comment below, or in this short form. Get full access to Wonder Tools at wondertools.substack.com/subscribe

Dive into the intriguing debate between traditional paper and modern digital note-taking. Discover the sleek reMarkable Paper Pro, a device that mimics the feel of paper while offering digital conveniences. The hosts share personal experiences on blending both methods for an ideal note-taking strategy. Learn how to navigate the paper-digital divide, enhancing your productivity with personalized solutions. The conversation reveals how to make the best of both worlds, helping you organize your thoughts effectively.