I’m an AI expert – here are my top 5 secret tools that could change your life in 2026
I test AI tools for a living –and while ChatGPT and Gemini are great for many things, these five are better assistants for everything from finances to cooking.
(Image credit: ChefGPT / Pine / Aesty)
I've tried out an absurd number of AI tools this year both for professional purposes and to satisfy my own curiosity. And while the big-name AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are often the default choice for many people, there are so many other choices out there that are often better for specific tasks.
They may be limited, niche, and even rely on AI models built by OpenAI or Google, but the narrower focus of the tools below often makes it easier to see exactly how they can improve your life in 2026.
You've probably haven't heard of some (or even all) of the AI tools below, but they're all on my favorites list – and they might become your new favorite assistant in 2026.
1. Goblin Tools
(Image credit: Goblin Tools)
Goblin Tools is great on any day, particularly when I struggle to get my brain in gear. The platform was built for neurodivergent people specifically, but it's useful for anyone feeling overwhelmed.
Goblin Tools uses AI to break down tasks into bite-sized activities. It can turn vague goals into actionable steps, as well as help rewrite messages to better fit the tone you're aiming at, and provide a way of objectively estimating the time a task will realistically take. But what it really offers is a clean interface that doesn’t judge you for asking how long the laundry might take for the fifth time.
The genius of Goblin Tools lies in how directly it serves people dealing with mental overload. It just adapts to whatever version of you is around today. It mimics empathy without sentiment, which is great when pressure makes productivity tough. Goblin Tools is a free service, though if you're going to use it at super high levels, there's a cost. Most won't get near that; however, they do accept donations.
What sets Goblin Tools apart is that it is not trying to replace your entire productivity system. It plays nicely alongside whatever you already use, whether that is a notes app, a task manager, or nothing at all.
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Unlike ChatGPT, which can theoretically do all of these things if you prompt it carefully, Goblin Tools packages each function with a built-in context. This one’s a favorite because when I’m stuck, I don’t need a chatbot conversation – I need a tool that makes hard things easier.
