The cheat sheet: the best AI for every task on one page
Bookmark this page. It sums up the whole subject: the best tools for each task, the one prompt habit that matters most, and where to learn more. Tools change often, so check each tool's site for current features and prices.
Best AI by task
| Task | Best tools to start with | Lesson |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday questions, writing, planning | ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot | Writing |
| Grammar and polish | Grammarly, your chat assistant | Writing |
| Learning to code, fixing errors | Chat assistants | Coding |
| Daily professional coding | GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code | Coding |
| Posters, flyers, social posts | Canva | Images |
| Generate images | ChatGPT images, Gemini, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly; Ideogram for text | Images |
| Logos and vectors (ideas) | Recraft, Illustrator; finish by hand | Images |
| Research with sources | Perplexity, deep research modes | Research |
| Academic papers | Elicit, Consensus, Semantic Scholar, Google Scholar | Research |
| Studying your notes | NotebookLM, Anki, Quizlet | Studying |
| Short video editing | CapCut, Descript, Opus Clip | Video |
| Text-to-video | Veo, Sora, Runway, Kling | Video |
| Transcription and meeting notes | Otter, built-in meeting notes, Descript | Audio |
| Voice-overs | ElevenLabs (your own voice is best for trust) | Audio |
| Music | Suno, Udio (check rights) | Audio |
| Slides | Gamma, Copilot in PowerPoint, Gemini in Slides, Canva | Presentations |
| Reports and long PDFs | Claude, ChatGPT, NotebookLM, Copilot in Word | Documents |
| Spreadsheets and data | Copilot in Excel, Gemini in Sheets, ChatGPT/Claude file analysis, Julius | Data |
| Marketing and customer service | Chat assistants, Canva, WhatsApp Business, Tidio | Business |
| Automation | Zapier, Make, n8n, Apps Script | Automation |
| Repeated jobs | Custom GPTs, Claude Projects, Gemini Gems | Automation |
The prompt habit that matters most
Give context, task, examples and format:
Context: I'm a [role] helping [audience] with [goal].
Task: [exactly what you want].
Details: [facts, notes, numbers I provide].
Format: [length, structure, tone, language].
Rules: Don't invent facts; ask me if anything is missing.The five golden rules
- One chat assistant first; add specialists only when you hit a limit.
- Give your own facts; AI writes best from your material.
- Verify facts, numbers, references and code.
- Protect privacy: no passwords, PINs or others' personal data.
- Be honest: follow school and work rules; no deepfakes or fake reviews.
Keep learning
- Artificial intelligence: from zero to pro
- AI tools for work and study
- Earning with AI skills
- AI-powered services you can sell
Think about it: Which three tools from this cheat sheet would make the biggest difference to your work or studies this month, and what's one task you'll try each on?Show answer
Answers vary. A good answer picks tools for tasks you actually do often (for example: a chat assistant for emails and reports, Canva for posters, NotebookLM for revision) and names a specific first task for each, so you start using them this week.
Summary
- Each task has a best-fit tool; most people need a chat assistant plus one or two specialists.
- Use the context–task–details–format prompt habit.
- Follow the five golden rules: start simple, give facts, verify, protect privacy, be honest.
Check yourself
Which tool is best for studying your own notes and PDFs? (one word)
Show answer
notebooklm
Which tool is the go-to for posters and social posts? (one word)
Show answer
canva
How many chat assistants should you start with? (a number)
Show answer
1