These Are My Go-To AI Tools (And How I Actually Use Them)
- Krystina Robison
- Jul 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 6
If you’ve spent more than 30 minutes with me, you know I’m obsessed with finding the right tool for the job. I absolutely love testing new tools and keep my eyes on Product Hunt regularly to see what's gone live and what the initial feedback is about the latest in AI start-ups. When it comes to running a modern business though, especially one that’s AI-forward, there are a few reliable options I reach for every single day.
What follows are my ride-or-die tools - but I need to throw in a disclaimer first. These tools still hallucinate (get stuff wrong, but confidently) and they will continue to do that for the foreseeable future. There are many folks out there working on making the models more accurate, but you absolutely have to apply critical thinking to any output that you receive from a model today. It does make mistakes - regularly. One easy trick to try to ensure accuracy is to ask it to check it's work after it's given you an output. But even then - it can and will make mistakes. Do not solely rely on it for major decisions (like investment advice or unchecked strategy decisions). Use it as a starting point and take it from there.
💬 ChatGPT (My Guy!)
Let’s be clear. ChatGPT is basically my co-founder. He helps me write blog posts (hi), map out customer journeys, sketch automations, and even proofread texts when my brain is mashed potatoes. Yes, he's a he. He called himself Merrick and we just roll with that. Livin' in the future, ya'll.
How I use it creatively:
As a conversation partner when I’m stuck on strategy
To role play clients and stress-test my offer
For drafting first-pass content I can quickly punch up (emails, CTAs, onboarding flows, all of it)
If you’re only using ChatGPT for “write this caption,” you’re missing the good stuff.
👩💻 Claude (For When I’m Wearing My Coder Hat)
Anthropic's Claude is my go-to when I’m elbow-deep in technical logic, trying to untangle something in a spreadsheet, Zapier, or custom code an application, like a landscape routing app I built for a client. He’s less chatty than ChatGPT but super sharp when I need structured problem-solving.
What I love Claude for:
Vibe coding something relatively simple (workflow automations or light-weight web-apps)
Mapping out JSON logic for APIs
Translating my non-dev language into actual working syntax
Claude is like an engineering buddy who isn't mad that I didn't get a degree in Computer Science, unlike some real-life engineers I've worked with in the past (unpleasant).
🗂 NotebookLM (Your Research Brain, Organized)
This one’s underrated outside of the AI crowd. I load up NotebookLM with project documents, meeting notes, spreadsheets, and random brain dumps. Then I ask questions across all of it. It’s like having a research assistant who remembers everything and doesn’t get overwhelmed.
Unexpected ways I use it:
To better understand a market and it's latest challenges by feeding it every known source or paper I can find and having it summarize the key points
To track evolving ideas across different SunRay AI projects
Multi-stakeholder Project Manager (I load in everything related to a project and ask it questions to remind me the status, what is a blocker, what needs to be actioned next).
NotebookLM turns mess into memory.
✨ Google AI Studio using Gemini
This one’s new in the rotation, but I’m loving it. Google's AI Studio is my creative sandbox. It’s where I go when I want to storyboard, prototype ideas visually, or think in multimedia.
How I use it:
Mapping out AI service flows in a way that looks good and makes sense
Creating internal how-to explainers or pitch decks
Moodboarding campaign vibes before I start designing anything
It’s the “think through it in color” tool I didn’t know I needed.
Bottom line: tools matter, but only if they make sense in your workflow today
Each of these tools plays a specific role in how I run SunRay AI and how I help my clients do the same. I use them because they make the work lighter and more aligned with how my brain wants to move. It's important that we find you the tools to do the same.
If you're building a business or just trying to get more of your time back, these tools can make a real difference. Especially when you stop trying to do things the “normal” way and start doing them your way.
At SunRay AI, I help small business owners plug into tools like these with confidence and clarity. If you’re curious which ones will actually move the needle for your business, let’s map it out together.
Let’s make the tools work for you, not the other way around.
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