Honest takes on the AI tools we use

We build production AI systems for clients every week, which means we test a lot of tools. Most of them get returned to the shelf within an afternoon. The ones below earn their slot — or fail in a way worth documenting.

Each review follows the same template: what the tool actually does, when to reach for it, when to skip it, the trade-offs nobody mentions in the pitch deck, and a one-sentence verdict we're willing to commit to. No affiliate links. No sponsored placements. No five-star inflation. Just the working notes of a small studio that has to ship.