THE NOMASFOR TOOLKIT
Find the right AI tool for the job.
A practical directory of AI tools we think are worth understanding. What each tool does, when it helps, and what to check before you rely on it.
General assistants & research
01. ChatGPT
Best for: General-purpose thinking, drafting, learning, analysis, and working across different formats.
Use it to turn a rough idea into a plan, explain unfamiliar topics, analyse documents, brainstorm options, or build a first draft. Give it context and ask it to show assumptions. Check important facts before acting on its answers.
02. Claude
Best for: Long-form writing, careful document work, coding help, and complex reasoning tasks.
Claude can help review a lengthy brief, compare documents, improve the structure of a report, or reason through a coding problem. It is still worth checking citations, calculations, and any technical changes before using them.
03. Google Gemini
Best for: Multimodal assistance and workflows connected to Google’s ecosystem.
Try Gemini when you need help understanding mixed media, exploring an idea, or working alongside supported Google services. Review connected-app permissions and avoid sharing sensitive information unnecessarily.
Search, sources & knowledge
04. Perplexity
Best for: Web research when you want an answer accompanied by links to sources.
Use it to get oriented on a topic, discover primary sources, and build a reading list. Open the cited pages yourself: a citation is a starting point for verification, not proof that every sentence is correct.
05. NotebookLM
Best for: Studying and asking questions about a collection of your own sources.
Add documents or supported sources, then use the notebook to summarise themes, locate relevant passages, and generate study aids. It works best when your source material is reliable and well organised.
Creative work
06. Midjourney
Best for: Art direction, concept imagery, and polished visual exploration.
Describe the subject, composition, lighting, mood, and aspect ratio. Use it to explore visual directions before commissioning or producing final brand assets. Check licensing and usage terms for commercial projects.
07. Runway
Best for: AI-assisted video generation and creative video workflows.
Use it to prototype a short visual, create supporting footage, or explore a scene before editing. Plan shots carefully and review generated clips for continuity, unwanted details, and rights issues.
08. ElevenLabs
Best for: Text-to-speech, voiceovers, dubbing, and audio production.
It can help produce narration for explainers and training material. Use only voices you have permission to use, disclose synthetic media where appropriate, and listen closely for pronunciation and tone.
Building & automation
09. Cursor
Best for: Developers who want AI assistance inside a code editor.
Use it to understand an unfamiliar codebase, draft a change, or investigate a bug. Review diffs, run tests, and keep version control enabled; never accept a large code change without understanding its effect.
10. Zapier
Best for: Connecting apps and automating repetitive business workflows.
Start with a small workflow, such as saving form submissions to a spreadsheet or routing a notification to the right team. Add approval steps before automations send messages, change records, or spend money.
How to choose wisely
Do not choose a tool because it has the longest feature list. Start with one recurring task, test two products on the same real example, and compare accuracy, time saved, ease of review, privacy controls, and total cost. Features and plans change, so check each provider’s official site before subscribing.