The Best AI Apps to Try Now

Tech giants and tiny startups alike are experimenting with generative AI, which creates textual content and pictures based mostly on patterns in coaching knowledge. It guarantees to make our lives simpler. These instruments additionally blur the road between what got here from a human and what didn’t: Type a couple of phrases—the all-important “immediate”—and watch text, graphics, even music materialize as if from nowhere.

While a majority of U.S. adults have heard of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, only 14% have tried it, according to a report by the Pew Research Center. Many free AI-powered tools have appeared since ChatGPT’s debut, and there are many more on the way.

Generative-AI tools aren’t a fad. They will only become more present in our daily lives, as money pours into the sector, tech companies continue to innovate and more services become available. Deciding which AI tools to take for a spin can be overwhelming, so we’ve compiled a list of easy-to-try apps and websites to get you started.

General search & chatbots

AI-enabled chatbots are an enhanced way to search for information in a conversational form, brainstorm work ideas and even write poetry. Beware: It’s common for these natural-language processors to make mistakes or make up facts—an issue inherent in generative AI known as hallucination—so don’t take everything a chatbot spouts out as gospel truth.

ChatGPT by OpenAI

ChatGPT, the most famous generative-AI tool right now, lets users type text-only prompts in exchange for text-only responses. It was trained on huge amounts of data found on the internet, so it’s great for complex questions and drafting letters. To access the bot, create an account with OpenAI, or log in via Google, Microsoft or Apple. The free version is open to everyone, but it’s slow and can refuse requests if too many people are using it. The faster, $20-a-month ChatGPT Plus doesn’t have congestion outages, and gets under-the-hood updates sooner. (Website, iOS)

Microsoft’s Bing

The new Bing incorporates OpenAI’s tech with Microsoft’s search engine for up-to-date responses. It lets you write prompts to deliver text, image and video search results. That’s helpful if a suggested recipe isn’t what you’re looking for, and you’d rather have a video walk you through the process step-by-step. The bot cites its sources, though that doesn’t mean it’s immune to AI hallucinations. It’s free to use, but to access all its features, you’ll have to download the Edge browser and log in with a Microsoft account. (Website, iOS, Android)

Google’s Bard

Bard is great if you want to get straight to the point. You can use it to draft a blog post or an email to a boss, and even search the web. The company is working on an update that would let users prompt Bard with images, and in the coming months, Bard will be able to generate images using Adobe Firefly, a generative-AI image tool. You must be 18 years old or older with a Google account to use the free software, which works on a variety of browsers. (Website)

Image generators

AI images can be based on text or visual prompts, such as “King Kong roller skating down the Empire State Building.” Many picture turbines have hassle re-creating people precisely and are higher fitted to summary ideas or concepts.

OpenAI’s DALL-E 2

OpenAI’s DALL-E was one of many earliest picture turbines, and it’s nonetheless a enjoyable, if clunky, software. It generates 4 pictures based mostly on a textual content description—“a chair formed like an avocado”—or even a photo. If you signed up after April 6, you’ll have to buy credits to try it. (Website)

Bing Image Creator

Bing Image Creator is powered by the latest version of OpenAI’s DALL-E, but improves on it with a slick interface and a way to get free fast results. You need to log in with a Microsoft account but can use any browser. When you sign up, you get “boosts,” tokens to generate pictures rapidly. Boosts are replenished over time, however in case you run out, picture creation can take longer. (Website)

DreamStudio

Bing and DALL-E don’t allow you to create pictures of public figures. Stability AI’s DreamStudio does. You can sort “Ariana Grande carrying a pink gown and consuming a cupcake,” and get an image of her doing that—sort of. (Getty Images is suing Stability AI for copyright infringement.) To access the tool, create a Stability AI account or log in via Google or Discord. Everyone starts with 25 credits. Using system defaults, you can get about one image per credit, but it varies depending on your settings. You can pay $1 for an additional 100 credits. (Website)

Lensa by Prisma Labs

This app is primarily used for editing photos and adding video animation and effects. It can be a creative way to generate online profile pictures, known as “magic avatars”: You add footage of your self and it reimagines you as every kind of characters, like a mermaid or an astronaut. Like DreamStudio, Lensa additionally makes use of Stability AI’s Stable Diffusion text-to-image mannequin. Subscriptions begin at $3 per week. (iOS, Android)

Adobe Firefly

Adobe Firefly does so much freed from cost. You can generate pictures from a textual content description, apply kinds or textures to textual content and edit pictures based mostly on textual content descriptions. You may also change the background, take away objects or zoom out the picture past what was captured. Adobe mentioned Firefly is skilled utilizing Adobe Stock pictures and different knowledge units to respect artists’ possession. (Website, iOS, Android)

Career & productiveness

Companies want to AI to spice up productiveness within the office. These instruments assist reduce on the time you spend writing emails, taking notes and even attending conferences. If you wish to use these instruments at work, you may want your organization’s approval.

GrammarlyGo

GrammarlyGo, powered by its personal tech and OpenAI’s GPT-3.5, can assist you draft emails in a pinch by scanning your e mail and summarizing a reply. You may also use the software to rephrase your wording or alter your tone, and it learns your preferences over time. Users get 100 prompts a month free. Grammarly Premium provides customers 1,000 prompts for $30 month-to-month, or $144 yearly. (Website)

OtterPilot

Otter.ai’s good assembly assistant routinely handles dwell note-taking and action-item monitoring. To use it, log into your Otter account and join your Google or Microsoft calendars. OtterPilot then routinely joins your conferences and takes notes—even in case you’re not within the assembly your self. (Your office administrator may prohibit this software.) The free model contains 300 month-to-month minutes of notetaking, as much as half-hour per dialog. The $16.99-a-month Pro model is healthier for longer conferences. (Website, iOS, Android)

Audio turbines

AI-generated audio can sound like somebody’s voice or a completely new voice. For now, it’s marketed to content material creators who don’t wish to spend time in an audio sales space—although it’s enjoyable to strive for your self. It may also be used to create music based mostly on textual content prompts, providing distinctive audio snippets that embody feelings, kinds or musical devices.

Prime Voice AI by ElevenLabs

Prime Voice AI turns textual content into audio snippets, both utilizing your precise voice or one you create utilizing the software’s know-how. Type within the textual content then tweak the AI-generated voice based mostly on ethnicity, gender and age. The voice can learn no matter you need, be it a bedtime story or a newspaper article. The free plan provides 10,000 characters, and the quantity resets every month. To clone your precise voice, you’ll must subscribe, beginning at $5 a month. (Website)

Google MusicLM

In Google’s MusicLM, you’ll be able to sort prompts comparable to “Peaceful guitars enjoying close to a campfire,” and the tool will generate multiple musical snippets that should sound something like it. You can download the track, and there’s no limit to how many songs you can create. There is a wait list, however, and you have to register for the AI Test Kitchen with your Google account. (Website, iOS, Android)

Everything else

Online travel agency Priceline and delivery company Instacart are among the many companies working on AI tools. The advantage of AI built into apps you already have is that they can be even more personalized and easy to use.

Duolingo’s Roleplay

French and Spanish learners can use Duolingo’s Roleplay text chatbot to practice their language skills, in themed conversations that feel like real messaging threads. When things get tough, the AI offers tips about what you should say instead. It also corrects errors and offers guidance to improve writing. The feature is available as part of the $30-a-month Duolingo Max subscription. (iOS)

Khan Academy’s Khanmigo

The OpenAI-powered chatbot is for students in need of personalized homework assistance. Its “Tutor me” mode and quiz module assist with topics together with math, studying, science and historical past. It is most correct for questions on main Ok-12 topics however can nonetheless make errors. To get on the wait record, you want a Khan Academy account. You should be 18 to enroll, however you may give entry to your children. Once chosen, you may be requested to donate $20 a month. (Website)

My AI in Snapchat

The new chatbot for Snapchat’s messaging function is powered by ChatGPT. Users can customise the AI, giving it a reputation, avatar and outfit. (After Snap confronted backlash for inappropriate responses, the corporate added a filter for customers below age 18.) Snapchat+ subscribers can now ship pictures to the AI, which replies with its personal generated pictures. (iOS, Android)

Expedia’s in-app journey planning

Expedia’s AI assistant, additionally powered by ChatGPT, affords journey suggestions to e book instantly within the app. When a person asks the bot for lodging solutions, it organizes them within the app’s Trips part. Just bear in mind: The software continues to be in beta, it is just out there in English, and it doesn’t have entry to real-time pricing data. (iOS)

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Write to Cordilia James at cordilia.james@wsj.com