YouTip

Since 2023, the number of AI tools has grown exponentially. For writing, there are AI writing assistants; for drawing, there are AI painting tools; for coding, there are AI programming assistants; and there are even dedicated AI tools for making PPTs and editing videos. Faced with hundreds of AI tools, many people's first reaction is: Where should I start? Which one is right for me? This chapter will help you build a cognitive framework for AI tools—understanding what categories exist, what representative tools are in each category, their advantages and disadvantages, and which scenarios call for which tools. You don't need to try every new tool. Finding 3-5 tools that suit you and mastering them is enough. > Tools serve people. Don't use tools for the sake of using tools. Think clearly about what problem you need to solve, then find a tool that can solve that problem. * * * ## Text Generation Tools The most mature and widely used category of AI tools. Writing emails, reports, code, translation, summarization, brainstorming—text generation tools can handle all of these. Divided into international and domestic options, each has its strengths. ### International Mainstream Text Generation Tools | Tool Name | Developer | Features | Applicable Scenarios | Pricing Model | Recommendation | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | ChatGPT | OpenAI | Most mature ecosystem, rich plugins, great user experience | Daily conversation, writing, learning, creative inspiration | Free + Plus ($20/month) | Highly Recommended | | Claude | Anthropic | Large context window (can upload long documents), rigorous answers, high security | Long document analysis, code writing, professional domain work | Free + Pro ($20/month) | Highly Recommended | | Gemini | Google | Strong multimodal capabilities, can integrate with search, outstanding coding abilities | Scenarios requiring latest information, code generation, multimodal tasks | Free + Advanced ($20/month) | Recommended | ### Domestic Mainstream Text Generation Tools | Tool Name | Developer | Core Features | Applicable Scenarios | Pricing Model | Website | Recommendation | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | ERNIE Bot | Baidu | Mature Chinese understanding, supports search enhancement, office collaboration, knowledge Q&A, deep integration with Baidu ecosystem | Chinese writing, office assistant, knowledge retrieval, education | Free + Premium Member | [yiyan.baidu.com](https://yiyan.baidu.com/) | Recommended | | Qwen | Alibaba | Balanced comprehensive capabilities, strong multimodal abilities, supports code, documents, reasoning, and Agent capabilities | Office collaboration, content creation, programming assistance, enterprise applications | Free + Member | [tongyi.aliyun.com](https://tongyi.aliyun.com/) | Highly Recommended | | Kimi | Moonshot AI | Outstanding long context capabilities, supports ultra-long document understanding, PDF reading, and material summarization | Long document analysis, paper reading, knowledge organization | Free + Premium | [kimi.com](https://kimi.com/) | Recommended | | DeepSeek | DeepSeek | Strong reasoning capabilities, outstanding code generation, supports deep thinking mode, good cost-performance | Programming development, complex problem analysis, learning and research | Free + Pay-per-use API | [chat.deepseek.com](https://chat.deepseek.com/) | Very Recommended | | Doubao | ByteDance | Natural dialogue, fast content generation, good at creative expression and lifestyle scenarios | Daily chat, creative writing, light office work | Free + Member | [doubao.com](https://www.doubao.com/?channel=cngj&source=hw_db_cngj_01) | Optional | ### Text Generation Tool Selection Suggestions If you're new to AI, it's recommended to start with **ChatGPT** or **Claude**—they represent the highest level of current text generation. If you primarily handle Chinese content, domestic tools may be more convenient—they typically have better understanding and generation for Chinese. If you need to process ultra-long documents (like reading a book or a hundreds-page report), Claude or Kimi are good choices. > Suggestion: Start with 1-2 mainstream tools and master them before considering others. The depth of tool usage matters more than breadth. * * * ## Image Generation Tools Generating images from text descriptions is the most visually impactful application of AI. Design, illustration, prototyping, material generation—these scenarios can all benefit from image generation tools. ### Comparison of Mainstream Image Generation Tools | Tool Name | Developer | Features | Applicable Scenarios | Pricing Model | Recommendation | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Midjourney | Midjourney | Best aesthetic effects, diverse styles, active community | Illustrations, concept design, creative materials | Subscription ($10-$60/month) | Highly Recommended | | Stable Diffusion | Stability AI | Open source, can be deployed locally, highly customizable | Professional designers, need full control over generation process | Free (open source) + cloud services | Recommended | | DALL·E 3 | OpenAI | Precise text understanding, generated images match descriptions | Scenarios requiring precise description-based generation | Pay-per-use | Recommended | | Ideogram | Ideogram | Excellent text rendering, good at generating images with text | Posters, logos, designs requiring text | Free + Paid | Optional | | Flux | Black Forest Labs | Fine image quality, strong realism | Product images, realistic style images | Free + Paid | Recommended | ### Image Generation Tool Selection Suggestions If you pursue effect and ease of use, go directly with **Midjourney**—although it requires payment, the effect is truly excellent. If you're a designer who wants full control or has privacy concerns, you can explore **Stable Diffusion**—it can run on your own computer, allowing you to modify it however you want. If you need to generate images with text (such as posters, Logos), Ideogram specializes in this. > Tip: AI-generated images may have copyright risks. Please confirm the licensing terms of each tool before commercial use. * * * ## Code Assistant Tools AI's productivity boost for programmers is one of the most significant. Code completion, code explanation, bug finding, refactoring, even generating projects from scratch—AI can handle all of these. ### Comparison of Mainstream Code Assistants | Tool Name | Developer | Core Features | Applicable Scenarios | Pricing Model | Recommendation | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | GitHub Copilot | GitHub / Microsoft | Mature IDE integration, fast code completion, supports Agent mode and multi-model collaboration | Daily coding, code completion, enterprise development | Free + Pro (~$10/month) | Highly Recommended | | Cursor | Anysphere | AI-native editor, supports context awareness, code understanding, and Agent workflows | AI programming, new project development, full-process collaboration | Free + Pro (~$20/month) | Highly Recommended | | Claude Code | Anthropic | Terminal-first, supports file editing, command execution, code refactoring, and debugging | Complex projects, multi-file engineering, automated development | Based on Claude subscription | Recommended | | Qoder | Alibaba International | AI-native code editing experience, emphasizes understanding large projects, intelligent modifications, and engineering collaboration | Business development, team collaboration, AI-assisted programming | Free trial + commercial plan | Recommended | | Trae | ByteDance | AI-first development oriented, supports code generation, project understanding, and conversational development | Individual developers, rapid prototyping, full-stack development | Free (phased release) | Worth trying | ### Code Assistant Usage Examples Take Cursor as an example—it's a code editor specifically designed for AI. ## Example # In Cursor, you can collaborate with AI like this # Scenario 1: Let AI generate a Tutorial tutorial page # You only need to enter: "Create a simple Python beginner tutorial webpage, including title, code examples, explanations" # AI will directly generate the complete HTML file for you # Scenario 2: Let AI explain code # Select a piece of code you don't understand, press Cmd+K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows) # Enter: "Explain what this code does", AI will explain line by line # Scenario 3: Let AI fix bugs # Select the code that has an error # Enter: "This code has an error, help me find the problem and fix it" # Scenario 4: Refactor code # Enter: "This code is too messy, help me refactor it to be clearer, add comments" GitHub Copilot is more like a super auto-complete—you write a comment, it writes the code for you; you write half of it, it completes the rest. ## Example # Suppose you have Copilot installed in VS Code # You write such a comment: def calculate_runo