Image: Markus Spiske markusspiske / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
In short: AI tools fall roughly into five groups: chat assistants, writing and translation aids, coding assistants, image and media tools, and research tools. For most everyday tasks, the free versions of ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude are enough. Paid plans pay off for regular, demanding work. What matters most is using them deliberately: check results, keep sensitive data out and follow labelling rules.
Key terms
- Prompt: the instruction or question you give the AI.
- LLM: the model behind a chatbot, such as GPT-6, Gemini 4 or Claude.
- Context window: how much text the model can consider at once, measured in tokens.
- Hallucination: a false statement phrased convincingly.
- Agent: an AI that completes several steps on its own.
The five groups
- Chat assistants: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Microsoft Copilot. ChatGPT has run on GPT-6 for all users since 7 October 2026 (see GPT-6 explained).
- Writing and translation: DeepL and Apple Intelligence writing tools, which work in German in the EU. Siri AI does not (see Siri AI in Europe).
- Coding assistants: OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot and Claude Code. Review generated code as you would a new colleague's.
- Image, audio and video: image generators, transcription and automatic editing tools. Photorealistic images of real people are a legal and ethical minefield.
- Research: assistants with web search and citations. Always open the sources.
| Task | Tool type | Free enough? |
|---|---|---|
| draft an email | chat assistant | yes |
| translate text | translator | mostly |
| summarise a long PDF | assistant with large context | partly |
| write a program | coding assistant | small tasks |
| create an image | image generator | partly |
| research facts | assistant with search, plus your own checks | yes |
Five rules for safe use
- Keep passwords, health data and confidential documents out of public AI tools.
- Check numbers, quotes, laws and medical claims against reliable sources.
- Secure your account with a strong password and two-factor authentication (see passwords).
- Label AI content you publish. The EU AI Act transparency duties have generally applied since 2 August 2026.
- Check each provider's terms on copyright and commercial use.
Better prompts
A good prompt has four parts: a role, a task, the context and the desired format. For example: "You are a travel planner. Create a three-day plan for Vienna for a family with two children, travelling without a car in November, as a table with times and costs."
Verdict
The best AI tool is the one that fits the task. Start with a free assistant, and add specialised tools if you write, translate or code regularly. You remain responsible for the result. See AI in autumn 2026 and the AI tools section.
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