🔎 FYI, Google users: Next time you need help, there’s a search box where you can type what you want to do in everyday language. It sure beats digging around in the tool menus. In Sheets, you can type Remove column, or, in a Doc, try Who last edited this? Handy!
Best AI tools for search, productivity, fun and work
In the past week, I’ve used AI to analyze a loved one’s health care records, create replies for a bunch of emails and map out two weeks in Europe. I used it to make a pic of me look better, too.
I know the wide world of AI tools is overwhelming, so I’m breaking it down today. Consider what’s below your primer on where to start if you’re brand new to the AI game or want to try out some new tools.
💸 FYI, almost all these tools offer at least some free access when you make an account. I never pay for an app or service until I try it out and make sure I truly like it.
Smarter search
Google slaps AI results at the top of its search pages now, but their AI stinks. Try these instead when you’re looking for info:
- ChatGPT: I use it as a brainstorming buddy. Type in what you need and it can help you generate ideas, break down tasks, clean up your writing, fix your spreadsheets — whatever.
- Perplexity: It’s built for research and learning, and it’s my go-to for questions like “How do black holes work?” or “Explain the Ninth Amendment.”
- Poe: Try dozens of AI models, each with its own “personality” and specialty. StableDiffusionXL is A+ for creating art, and Claude-3-Haiku is popular for creative writing. You can make your own bots, too. Heads-up: Full subscription access to Poe costs a lot — $200 a year.
Get stuff done
My favorite part about AI is all the time it saves. Another perk is correcting its occasionally wrong answers. 💁♀️ Always double-check the results if you’re using AI for something super important, OK?
- Google NotebookLM: I’m super impressed by this one. Upload audio, notes, documents or any other files, then you can search them, find citations (from your own docs) or even produce a snazzy podcast based on your files.
- Revamp your resume: For free options, check out NovoResume, Teal or Rezi. Try them all, then pick your favorite or do a little testing and apply to jobs with all three!
- Canva’s Magic Studio: Create graphics, presentations or your family Christmas card. Easy to use and there are a ton of templates that look great.
For a little fun
Feeling creative? I’m no artist and still have a lot of fun playing around with these.
- Riffusion: This app lets you upload a picture and get a whole song about it. Here’s mine about an owl hanging out by my pool. Get it here for Apple and Android.
- Sonoteller.ai: Type in an artist and song (or drop in a YouTube link) for a full analysis of the lyrics and music. Today, I learned “Uptown Girl” is in E major.
- Make a video about anything: Synthesia.io and Hypernatural.ai both offer a few free videos to try out their services.
Confirmed: Google is a monopoly
A federal judge has ruled that Alphabet’s Google created an illegal monopoly by controlling almost all online searches. With around 90% market share, this decision could be a game-changer for Big Tech.
Don’t Google these words: A couple searched for “pressure cooker” and “backpacks” on the husband’s work laptop. (I know, right?) Of course, this search got flagged by his IT department … because they’re both homemade bomb ingredients. Just a reminder: Your IT department knows everything you do on a company-issued device.
165% surge
In exterminator searches in the U.S., compared to 2023. Across the country, people are waging war with pests. Three times as many Yelp searches for cockroach exterminators have been completed than at this time last year. According to Yelp, California has the biggest rat problem. Bet you thought it was New York.
🎀 Now, where did I leave that? Bookmarks in Google Chrome are searchable. Click in the address bar at the top, enter @bookmarks, then type as much as you remember about the name of the page to look for it.
⏩ Smartphone shortcut: Your sister sent you a picture a month ago. You can scroll and scroll to find it or use this trick. On iPhone, open Messages, tap a convo, then tap the person’s profile photo. Scroll to Photos > See All. On Android, open Messages, tap the search bar at the top, then choose the sender from the list of names.
Better Google searches: Use the Verbatim option! After you do a search, tap Tools (desktop) or Search tools (mobile) at the top of your results. Tap the dropdown menu for All Results, then choose Verbatim. Now you’ll get results for what you actually searched for, not what Google thinks you want.
Find what you want: Google Photos has a slick, new, Gemini AI-powered tool: Ask Photos. Open your app to see if you have early access. If so, you’ll find an Ask button at the bottom of your screen. Type in searches in regular language, like, “On the boat with Barry” or “Playing ball with Abby.”
🚨 “Malvertising”: That’s the snazzy term for malware that spreads through “sponsored content” results at the top of Google searches. One click and you’re off to a shady site that steals your personal info or worse. Stay safe: Double-check URLs for misspellings or type them in manually. Keep your OS and browser updated, too. The best defense? Strong antivirus software.
Dirty diaper ruined a family business
Paul and Rachelle Baron own Beau & Belle Littles, a once thriving swim diaper business. But when Amazon resold a returned diaper as “new,” a one-star review flagged by more than 100 buyers left them $600,000 in debt. Plus, CrowdStrike trouble continues, web searches are changing, and a remote worker turned out to be a North Korean spy.
Your website is dead: Some 58.8% of U.S. Google searches never leave Google now. Worse? Nearly 30% of clicks go to Google’s own products, like YouTube, News and Images. I told you this would happen in November 2022. Btw, the guy who owns Milk.com wants $10 million for the domain. Good luck with that.
Prime Day skepticism
Curious why Google searches for “Is Prime Day a scam?” skyrocketed by 300% in just 24 hours? Here’s the scoop.
Gen Z & millennials discover the flip phone
Flip phones are making a surprising comeback, with online searches skyrocketing over 15,000% as a new generation embraces their simplicity.
1 in 7 searches
Now show Google’s AI Overview results. They backed way, way off after all the drama around bad, dangerous or just plain dumb answers. Still, I’d take what you read there with a grain of salt.
Don’t live in the past (or, if you do, erase it): You went down the Facebook rabbit hole while snooping on an ex and you want to wipe away the last 20 minutes of your search history. Log into Facebook on your browser and tap your profile picture. Select Settings & Privacy > Activity Log. Click Logged actions and other activity, then Search history. Tap Clear Searches.
70% more searches
For “star bathing.” Yep, that’s a new term you need to know. Campsite booking platform Hipcamp is seeing more guests looking for a site under clear skies so they can become one with nature. It’s a little out there for me.
Just the facts, ma’am: Consensus is an AI search engine for finding gems in research papers. A free account includes unlimited searches. Neat!
Wipe away the stuff you stayed up too late searching for on Instagram. Open the IG app and tap your profile pic in the bottom right corner. Tap the three-line icon at the top right > Your activity > Recent searches, then tap Clear all twice. Follow me at Instagram.com/KimKomando.
P*rn and last week's eclipse
How did the eclipse affect searches for adult content? Surprisingly, we have the data.