Updated September 1, 2026
Which AI models/tools are most appropriate for XYZ task?
The pace of change is fast. Here is an overview from Mignon Fogarty from May 2026 (first item).
- Claude is often considered the best all-purpose model for quality writing. It’s what I use.
- ChatGPT: the Swiss Army knife of AI tools.
- Perplexity is meant for research and delivering answers with sources. (You can specify which sources you want to prioritize or use.) Here’s a primer.
- Sudowrite is the tool most often used by creative writers.
- See Sudowrite’s Muse for fiction writing in particular.
- Google’s Gemini Notebook is impressive, easy, and a good place to start if you are new to using AI. https://notebooklm.google/
- ElevenLabs is the leader in AI audio tools. An author-focused service is Spoken, for audiobooks.
- An LLM wiki changed how I work by Casey Newton at Platformer: a look at how powerful AI can be for news reporting and journalism
Using AI for fact-checking and research
- Mike Caulfield is the leading expert I’ve found on how to use AI to research and fact-check claims. Start here (from December 2025).
For AI news & analysis
- AI Sidequest by Mignon Fogarty (also known as The Grammar Girl): AI news slanted toward those in the writing and publishing community
- Simon Willison’s newsletter: This may be too technical for writers, but he does accessible posts once in a while that cut through the noise and offer clarity on AI developments. Balanced.
- AI Is Normal Technology by Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor: Critically examines the exceptional hype coming from the AI companies. These writers consider AI a transformative technology, similar to electricity or the internet, but they push back on claims related to superintelligence.
Further reading
- “Writing with AI”: Tech leader Tim O’Reilly discusses the eventual development of AI as a medium for writing and artistic expression. In my opinion, one of his most important points is that we shouldn’t criticize people for using AI to write because it’s “cheating” or makes writing too easy. It’s more complicated than that, at least for people who consider themselves writers and artists. Read.
- If you are worried that AI will ruin human cognition or make us lazy, read The Lump of Cognition Fallacy by Andy Masley
- “So your music helped train an AI music model”: This article by a musician could just as well be about writing and publishing. It’s one of the most clear-eyed discussions I’ve seen addressing people’s anger about AI training on their work. He says there are four main reasons an artist might care if their work is used to train models, then discusses the problems very plainly and effectively. He is not pro-AI and doesn’t care whether you use AI or not, but his ending point is that no cavalry is coming and no one is really explaining how artists weather the storm (other than being anti-AI or demanding more rights and money, etc—which are frankly not lasting solutions). If you remain angry/bitter/emotional about the training, this is a must read.