The Comprehensive Guide to AI Tools for Creatives
Many creatives initially approach generative AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E with apprehension, fearing they might be rendered obsolete or that human creativity will lose its significance. While these concerns are understandable, it’s essential to view AI in a different light. AI can be a liberator from creative constraints and repetitive tasks, enabling humans to reach new heights of creativity.
A vast array of AI tools is tailored to assist various creatives in bypassing obstacles that hinder their creative flow. Whether you’re a playwright brainstorming the next act, a musician seeking a fresh chord progression, or a podcaster needing a swift edit in a recorded segment, there’s an AI solution for you.
Enhancing Creativity with AI: A Guide
With our Creator’s Guide to AI, you’ll receive:
- Insights on how creatives are leveraging AI tools
- Strategies for utilizing AI to enhance your creative process
- An overview of how successful artists incorporate generative AI into their routines
- Steps to embark on your AI journey, especially if you’re still on the fence
Below is a curated list of AI tools tailored for creatives. While we’ve labeled it the "comprehensive" list (yes, partly to grab your attention), it’s by no means exhaustive. The rapid evolution of these tools makes it challenging to stay updated. However, this list comprises the most talked-about, intriguing, and beneficial tools we’ve encountered. It’s a solid starting point for your AI exploration, so dive in and harness the power of AI.
A quick note: While creatives can undoubtedly experiment with tools beyond their primary domain — like a podcaster using AI-generated music — I support fellow creatives by compensating them for their unique contributions. More often than not, the human touch yields richer and more impactful results than what AI can produce.
Empowering Creatives with the Right Tools.
AI Tools for Podcast
- Descript: An AI-driven editor that transcribes audio and video, allowing for text-like editing. It enhances recording quality, detects and removes filler words, and even corrects mispronunciations using synthesized voice through its Overdub feature. Pricing: Free version offers 1 hour of transcription and 10 minutes of Studio Sound monthly.
- Podcastle: A cloud-based recorder and editor that facilitates remote interviews, editing, and mixing. It also offers transcription, sound enhancement via Magic Dust, and AI voiceovers. Pricing: Free version includes unlimited recording, 1 hour of transcription, and 3 Magic Dust uses.
- Resound: An AI audio editor that identifies and removes filler words. Pricing: Free for the first hour of editing monthly; subsequent plans from $12/month.
- Adobe Podcast: Adobe’s AI text-based audio editor that enhances speech and supports remote recording. Pricing: Currently in beta and free for selected users.
- Auphonic: Enhance your recordings by uploading them to Auphonic. It offers various audio optimization algorithms and can even append intros and outros. Pricing: Free for 2 hours of processed audio monthly.
- Cleanvoice.ai: Focuses on eliminating unwanted sounds, especially speech imperfections. Pricing: First 30-minute recording is free; subsequent plans from 10 Euros/month or pay-as-you-go options.
- Listnr: Convert text into one of 600 AI voices. Pricing: $9 for up to 10,000 words monthly.
- Alitu: An all-in-one podcast production platform powered by AI. Pricing: Post 7-day free trial, the service costs $38/month.
- Dubb: Focuses on podcast recording and marketing, generating transcripts, episode titles, and even AI TikTok videos. Pricing: Free media kit available; plans start at $24.99/month.
- Capsho: Uses AI to generate various written content for podcast marketing. Pricing: Post 7-day free trial, plans start at $29/month.
- Podcastmarketing.ai: Another AI tool for generating written content for podcast promotion. Pricing: Plans start at $9 for one episode monthly.
- Listener.fm: AI tool for generating podcast show notes. Pricing: Pro plan at $19/month for unlimited uploads.
- Melville: Yet another podcast show notes tool with a unique pricing model and interface. Pricing: First hour is free; subsequent charges are 22 cents per episode minute.
- Vizard.ai: For video podcasters, Vizard repackages videos into shareable clips for social media. Pricing: Free for a limited period.
- Flowjin: Creates social-ready clips from audio or video podcast episodes. Pricing: First 60 minutes of uploads are free; plans start at $29/month thereafter.
- Vidyo.ai: Uses AI to select highlight clips from videos. Pricing: Free for up to 75 minutes of uploads per month; subsequent plans from $29.99/month.
- Lychee: Combines AI with human curation to produce high-quality video clips. Pricing: $150 for three clips, with discounts for bulk packages.
- Podintelligence: AI tool that selects and organizes clips, adding keywords and a human-reviewed transcript. Pricing: First content piece is free; subsequent pricing starts at $50 for content up to 60 minutes."
AI Tools for Video production
For seasoned video professionals, the idea of incorporating AI might seem redundant. However, there are two compelling reasons to consider it. Firstly, AI editing tools offer innovative features beyond the capabilities of traditional editors. Secondly, video generation tools can be invaluable for script testing, character interaction visualization, or presenting preliminary concepts to clients.
- Descript: An AI-driven video editor that transcribes your content, allowing you to edit as if you’re working on a document. It offers audio enhancement tools and a unique AI green screen feature to replace backgrounds automatically. Pricing: Free version provides 1 hour of transcription and 10 minutes of Studio Sound monthly.
Descript’s Green Screen tool uses AI for automatic background removal.
- Runway: A blend of AI image generator and video editor, Runway can craft videos from text or provide advanced editing tools like background removal, motion tracking, and beat detection. Pricing: Free for limited projects; plans from $12/month.
- Aug X Labs: Provides AI-driven B-roll. Upload an audio or video file, and it adds relevant visuals based on the content. Pricing: Currently in beta and free for selected users.
- Pictory: An AI video generator and editor that transforms scripts and blog posts into videos. It also offers text-based video editing and social media snippet creation. Pricing: Free trial for 3 videos up to 10 minutes; plans from $19/user/month.
- Synthesia: Converts text into a virtual avatar presentation in multiple languages. It offers a more engaging alternative to traditional stock footage. Pricing: Personal plan at $30 for 10 video credits/month.
- Synthesys: Similar to Synthesia, it creates a virtual AI presenter from text. It can also provide AI voiceovers for existing videos. Pricing: Plans vary based on features, starting from $23/month.
- D-ID: Generates speaking avatars, both human and fantastical, by merging facial images with audio or text. Pricing: Post 14-day free trial, monthly plans from $6 for 10 minutes of video.
- Elai: Combines automatic video creation with AI avatars. Generate videos from various sources and select an avatar to present. Pricing: Starting at $29 for 15 minutes of video monthly.
- InVideo: Quickly create videos from scripts, articles, or existing footage. Offers a vast template library and various AI tools. Pricing: Free for limited videos; plans from $30/month.
- VEED: An online video editor with features like screen recording, auto-subtitles, and AI voiceovers. Pricing: Free for videos under 10 minutes; plans from $25/month.
- FlexClip: A web-based editor known for its suite of AI tools, including an image generator, script generator, and a text-to-video tool. Pricing: Limited free version; plans from $19.99/month."
AI Tools for Writers
The realm of AI tools tailored for writers is vast and varied. Given the diverse nature of writing – from poetry to novels to screenplays – it’s only fitting. These tools can assist in idea generation, summarization, structuring, and more. They can significantly reduce the time spent on research, brainstorming, editing, and the actual writing process, allowing writers to focus on their true passion.
- ChatGPT: A familiar name for many, ChatGPT can be a game-changer for writers. It’s adept at generating ideas for headlines, topics, interview questions, and even subsequent paragraphs. It can simulate conversations with historical figures or story characters, adjust the tone of your writing, and refine your work for clarity and brevity. While it’s not ideal for factual research, it’s a comprehensive tool for writers. Price: Currently free, with a $20/month premium version on the horizon.
- HyperWrite: A Chrome extension that serves as an AI writing companion. It can offer suggestions, akin to phone autocomplete, or even craft entire paragraphs based on given topics. It also boasts an image generation feature. Price: Basic version is free.
- Sudowrite: Tailored for fiction writers, Sudowrite can delve into your characters, tone, and plot to suggest the next segment in your narrative. It can enhance descriptions, expand on brief sections, and pinpoint areas for enhancement. Price: Starting at $10 for 30,000 AI words monthly.
- Subtxt: Initially a narrative writing app, Subtxt now integrates AI text-generation, making it a potent tool for writers across various mediums. It also offers insights into narrative theory to bolster your story’s structure. Price: Starting at $25 for up to 100 AI tokens monthly.
- Laika: Laika is unique in that it learns from your writing. Feed it your stories, essays, and other writings, and it crafts a reflection of your voice, offering suggestions in your style. It can continue your narratives, create characters, and even visualize your descriptions. Price: Currently in closed beta with a waiting list available.
- Boo: Boo offers a minimalist, distraction-free interface. It integrates a ChatGPT-like AI assistant, smart autocomplete for writing suggestions, and templates for specific writing tasks. Price: Post a 3-day free trial, plans begin at $8 for 10,000 words monthly.
- Lex: Imagine an AI-infused Google Docs. Lex offers real-time collaboration and all the features of a cloud-based word processor, complemented by an AI assistant for brainstorming. Price: Currently in beta with a free waitlist option."
AI Tools for Visual Artists
The integration of AI in the realm of visual arts has sparked debates, but there’s no denying the potential of AI image generators. They can serve as a fresh source of inspiration, especially when artists feel trapped in repetitive styles. These tools can offer a fresh perspective or a unique starting point for a new piece.
- Midjourney: A popular image generator, Midjourney operates via chat prompts on Discord. This double-edged sword means you can view others’ creations while they see yours. Despite the fast-paced chat environment, the resulting images can be mesmerizing. Price: Free.
- Stable Diffusion: This renowned image generator lets you guide the AI with both positive and negative prompts. An adjustable "guidance" slider lets you dictate how strictly the AI adheres to your instructions. Price: Free.
Image from Stable Diffusion inspired by the prompt "A portrait of a cute white rabbit wearing a hood in the style of Pixar animations."
- DALL-E 2: A creation of OpenAI (the minds behind ChatGPT), DALL-E 2 excels at emulating various art styles and can craft images with a photorealistic touch. Price: Free.
- Lexica: While not a generative AI in the strictest sense, Lexica enhances your proficiency with such tools. It acts as a search engine for images crafted using Stable Diffusion, helping you understand potential outcomes of specific prompts. Price: Free.
- Craiyon: From the creators of DALL-E mini, Craiyon generates nine images simultaneously based on a given text prompt. Price: Free.
- Stockimg.ai: Unlike other generators focused on exploration, Stockimg is tailored for practical applications, such as book covers, logos, and posters. Price: Initial trial is free, with paid plans starting at $19 for up to 500 image credits monthly.
- Canva’s Text to Image: The renowned content creation tool, Canva, now boasts an AI image generator. It’s user-friendly: input your prompt, select a style, and choose an orientation. It then offers four image options, allowing for endless regeneration until satisfaction. Price: Currently free.
- Adobe Firefly: Adobe, the design behemoth, has ventured into generative AI. Its AI capabilities are seamlessly integrated into tools familiar to many designers. Features like text-to-image, generative fill, and generative recolor can be used within their regular design processes. Notably, it’s trained exclusively on licensed images. Price: Available with select Adobe Creative Cloud apps, including Photoshop (Beta) ($21/month), Illustrator ($21/month), and Adobe Express ($10/month). An all-inclusive Adobe apps package is available for $55/month.
AI Tools for Musicians
While AI-driven music tools often promise the allure of music creation without mastering an instrument, the outcomes can sometimes lack depth. However, when musicians integrate these tools into their creative journey, they can streamline experimentation, quickly arriving at a compelling musical concept. This efficiency allows them to invest more time in refining their compositions.
- Score by Amper Music: Primarily designed for content creators seeking soundtracks for videos and podcasts, Score allows musicians to fine-tune the piece’s structure, ensuring climactic moments align with their vision. Its use of unique real instrument samples sets it apart from generic stock music. Price: $5 licensing fee per track for personal endeavors.
- AIVA: If you’re looking to expand on an existing piece, AIVA allows you to upload your MIDI file, guiding the AI to craft a composition that resonates with the original. Alternatively, you can initiate a fresh composition from diverse preset styles. Price: Complimentary for the standard version.
- Ecrett Music: Tailored for crafting music for digital content, Ecrett has specific usage terms – essentially, you can only remix or add lyrics if the track is designated for a podcast, video, or game. However, drawing inspiration for your compositions is entirely free! Price: No-cost trial plan without download capabilities.
- Soundraw: Similar to Score, Soundraw empowers you to mold the song’s structure to your liking. If you intend to use the track as a standalone piece rather than a background score, ensure you adhere to the platform’s specific guidelines. Price: Unlimited song generation is free; $20 monthly for a cap of 50 daily downloads.
- MuseNet: A brainchild of OpenAI (the creators of ChatGPT and DALL-E), MuseNet offers complimentary access to generate 4-minute compositions with a choice of up to 10 instruments across various styles. Its standout feature is its capability to merge styles and evolve an existing piece into a novel composition. For instance, you can prompt it to initiate with The Pink Panther Theme’s intro and transition into a bluegrass style. Price: Free.