Every day I get to build and teach with AI - from chatbots and automations to custom tools for Kiwi businesses and one-on-one coaching calls. There are so many AI tools out there, so I thought I’d share the ones I actually use every single day.
1. ChatGPT
The number one tool I use daily is ChatGPT. The memory feature is what sets it apart - it remembers every past conversation and key information, so outputs are tailored to what I actually want without having to re-explain context every time.
Some examples of how I use it:
- Quick everyday questions (USB-C hub solutions, monitor refresh rate fixes)
- Thumbnail designs using uploaded character images
- Custom GPTs for specific use cases (like a real estate listing assistant)
- Data analysis with CSV uploads using the O3 model for deep thinking
Custom GPTs are particularly powerful. You can upload specific knowledge sources and customise exactly how it responds with a system prompt. For a real estate agent, I set one up that scrapes web data for any street address and writes listing descriptions based on the agent’s style.
2. Cursor
Cursor is an IDE (integrated development environment) built as a wrapper around VS Code. It lets you enter simple text prompts and have AI write and edit your code. It dramatically speeds up development time for web apps, scripting, and more.
Key features I use:
- MCP Servers - Connect to databases like Supabase so AI can set up schemas and link everything together from a text prompt
- Agent Mode - Lets AI freely edit across your codebase
- Ask Mode - Gets suggestions without making changes
- Background Agents - Solves problems asynchronously and creates pull requests for review
At roughly $20 USD/month with unlimited model requests and the ability to switch between models, Cursor is outstanding value.
3. Google AI Studio
The best thing about Google AI Studio is it’s completely free. You can select from all their models including Gemma (open source), previous 2.0 versions, and the latest 2.5 Pro. You also get fine-grained control over temperature, top-P, output length, and thinking modes.
Standout features include:
- Stream Mode - Share your screen or webcam for live AI guidance through unfamiliar software
- Generate Media - Free image generation (Imagen 4), speech, music (Lyria), and video (Veo 2)
- Build Tab - Type a prompt and it builds a full web app, deployable to Google Cloud Run
4. Claude
Claude excels at two things: coding and content generation. Inside Cursor, I use Claude Sonnet 4 for about 95% of my coding work. For content, Claude produces output with a more human feel compared to ChatGPT’s sometimes generic tone.
Claude also has Artifacts - like Cursor or Gemini’s Build, you can create interactive web apps, quizzes, games, QR code generators, and more. People upload study notes and create games to learn from, build language learning tools, or even explore 3D environments.
The Stack
These four tools - ChatGPT for memory and versatility, Cursor for coding, Google AI Studio for free media generation, and Claude for content and code quality - make up my daily AI toolkit.
