In 2025, AI tools are redefining creativity and productivity, offering solutions that range from coding assistance to artistic expression. Everyone has converted their photos into Ghibli art in the last week, and the internet is filled with those images.
We spent a week experimenting with some of the most talked-about AI tools— Sora, Cursor, NotebookLM, MidJourney, Ideogram, ElevenLabs, Perplexity, and Otter—to see how they could transform the workflow.
The results were fascinating, showcasing both their strengths and limitations.
OpenAI’s Sora
Sora by OpenAI is a text-to-video generator that converts simple text prompts into dynamic video clips. When you have generated Ghibli-style art with ChatGPT, you can make it into videos, which takes the experience to a whole new level.
Pros:
- Streamlines video creation, saving time and resources.
- Produces high-quality, visually appealing videos.
Cons:
- Increases dependency on AI, potentially impacting traditional video production skills.
- Requires time to master prompt crafting for optimal results.
Sora is a game-changer for content creators, making high-quality video production accessible without expensive software or technical expertise. However, mastering the tool’s nuances is essential to achieving the best results.
While the tool offers a fun and engaging way to create art, it does raise questions about AI’s role in replicating traditional artistic expressions. It’s particularly useful for casual users looking to enhance their photos, but might not be suitable for professional artists who prefer manual creative control.
Cursor
Anysphere’s Cursor AI is an AI-powered coding assistant designed to enhance developer productivity. Andrej Karpathy, one of the proponents of the tool, noted that it has slowly become indispensable for developers looking to do “vibe coding”.
Pros:
- Provides smart code suggestions and autocompletions, accelerating coding processes
- Context-aware recommendations improve workflow efficiency.
Cons:
- May lead to over-reliance on AI, potentially affecting coding skill development.
- Some integration challenges with different development environments.
Cursor is a fantastic tool for software engineers looking to speed up their development cycle. However, developers must balance AI assistance with problem-solving skills to maintain a strong coding foundation. Also, many people are also testing out other tools like Windsurf and Zed.
NotebookLM
NotebookLM is an experimental AI tool by Google Labs that acts as a virtual research assistant. But that’s just one thing. The tool lets you input your documents on it and create podcasts in a realistic voice, which you can listen to for hours for better understanding. It is indeed quite phenomenal.
Pros:
- Helps synthesise complex information from multiple sources.
- Streamlines note-taking by summarising and organising information.
Cons:
- Handling sensitive information may raise security concerns.
- As an experimental tool, it lacks some features and stability.
NotebookLM is particularly useful for researchers and students managing large amounts of information. More than being useful in the long run, it seems like more of an immersive entertainment tool which you will never get bored of listening to.
MidJourney
MidJourney is the OG AI art generation tool that creates images based on textual prompts. After OpenAI released DALL-E and the era of open source Stable Diffusion, people started loving the style of Midjourney and have been hooked to it ever since. And now, the quality of the images generated is simply phenomenal.
Pros:
- Produces vibrant, detailed visuals across various styles.
- Encourages creative exploration and experimentation.
Cons:
- Requires a paid subscription for full access.
- Output quality varies depending on prompt specificity.
- Alternatives are catching up quickly.
MidJourney remains a favorite among digital artists and designers. However, those unwilling to invest in a subscription might find free alternatives more appealing.
Ideogram
Ideogram AI specialises in integrating text within images, making it useful for logos, posters, and other graphics. More than Midjourney or Gemini’s image generator, it is a Canva-like tool for creating graphics and presentations.
Pros:
- Seamlessly combines textual content with visuals.
- User-friendly interface for design enthusiasts.
Cons:
- Has constraints regarding image dimensions.
- Offers fewer customisation options than traditional graphic design software.
Ideogram is an excellent tool for quick graphic design tasks, but professional designers may find its customisation options limiting compared to Adobe or Canva.
ElevenLabs
ElevenLabs is an AI voice generation platform that creates realistic and expressive speech. The recent podcast between Lex Fridman and PM Narendra Modi was also translated into different languages using the platform.
Pros:
- Produces natural-sounding speech with emotional nuance.
- Offers voice cloning capabilities with user consent.
Cons:
- Potential misuse in generating unauthorised voice replicas.
- Some features require a paid plan.
ElevenLabs is an incredible tool for voiceovers and audiobook creation, though ethical concerns around voice cloning should be considered before use.
Perplexity
Perplexity AI is a conversational AI search engine designed to provide accurate and up-to-date information. The Deep Research features on the platforms is amazing as it spends minutes finding the relevant information and gives back responses and details with proper citation.
Pros:
- Accesses real-time data, ensuring response relevance.
- Provides citations for verification of information.
Cons:
- It may still produce incorrect answers and require user validation.
- Sometimes delivers overly complex responses.
Perplexity is a great tool for fact-checking and research, but users should cross-reference sources before relying on its outputs.
Otter
Otter.ai is a transcription service that converts speech to text in real-time. You can just let it record, and it will transcribe everything in real time with maximum accuracy depending on the sound quality of the input.
Pros:
- Provides accurate and real-time transcriptions.
- Useful for meetings, interviews, and lectures.
Cons:
- Struggles with noisy backgrounds and heavy accents.
- Some features are locked behind a subscription with limited access
Otter is a must-have for journalists and students, making transcription tasks significantly easier, though background noise can sometimes impact accuracy.
After testing these AI tools for a week, it’s clear that each has its strengths and limitations. Some, like ChatGPT’s Ghibli-style generator and MidJourney, are great for artistic expression, while others, like Cursor and NotebookLM, enhance productivity.
However, reliance on AI tools should be balanced with human oversight to ensure ethical use and maintain essential skills.
