Tag Archive for: #SEOROI

Is SEO Still Relevant In The AI Era? New Research Says Yes – Search Engine Journal

Download your cheat sheet and checklist to start building content that works harder.
Large AI Overviews on SERPs are affecting visibility and causing a dramatic decrease in traffic.
Join us for a data-backed session where we break down how to detect, diagnose, and eliminate unnecessary branded ad spend.
Large AI Overviews on SERPs are affecting visibility and causing a dramatic decrease in traffic.
This template is your no-nonsense roadmap to a flexible, agile social media strategy.
Large AI Overviews on SERPs are affecting visibility and causing a dramatic decrease in traffic.
New study of 25,000 searches shows that top Google rankings still matter for ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI search results.
New research analyzing 25,000 user searches found that websites ranked #1 on Google appear in AI search answers 25% of the time.
This data demonstrates that traditional SEO remains relevant, despite claims that AI has rendered it obsolete.
Tomasz Rudzki, co-founder of ZipTie, studied real searches across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews. His findings challenge the widespread belief that AI makes traditional SEO pointless.
The data shows a clear pattern: if you rank #1 on Google, you have a 1-in-4 chance of appearing in AI search results. Lower rankings result in lower chances.
Rudzki stated:
“The higher you rank in Google’s top 10, the more likely you are to appear in AI search results across platforms. This isn’t speculation – it’s based on real queries from real users.”
The pattern holds across all major AI search platforms, suggesting that they all rely on traditional rankings when selecting sources.
The study detailed how AI search operates, using information from Google’s antitrust trial. The process involves three main steps:
Step 1: Pre-selection
AI systems identify the best documents for each query, favoring pages with higher Google rankings.
Step 2: Content Extraction
The AI extracts relevant information from these top-ranking pages, prioritizing content that directly answers the user’s question.
Step 3: AI Synthesis
The AI synthesizes this information into one clear answer, utilizing Google’s Gemini model for this step.
Google’s internal documents from the trial confirmed a critical fact: using top-ranking content enhances the accuracy of AI responses, which explains why traditional rankings continue to be so significant.
See also: Study: Google AI Overviews Appear In 47% Of Search Results
Sometimes, you’ll come across sources that don’t make it into the top 10. Research identified two reasons why:
Reason 1: Personalization
Search results differ by user. A page might rank high for one user but not for another.
Reason 2: Query Fan-Out
This is the more significant factor. According to Google’s documentation:
“Both AI Overviews and AI Mode may use a ‘query fan-out‘ technique — issuing multiple related searches across subtopics and data sources — to develop a response.”
Here’s what that means in simple terms:
When you search for “SEO vs SEM,” the AI discreetly runs multiple searches:
Pages that perform well for these additional searches can appear in results even if they don’t rank for your primary search.
Related: Google’s Query Fan-Out Patent: Thematic Search
The research shows we need to think differently about content.
Traditional SEO focused on creating the “best page.” This meant comprehensive guides covering everything about a topic.
AI search wants the “best answer.” This means specific, focused responses to exact questions.
The analysis notes:
“When someone asks specifically about iPhone 15 battery life, you may rank top 1 in Google, but AI doesn’t care about it if you don’t provide a precise, relevant answer to that exact question.”
Marketers need to shift from keyword optimization to answering real questions.
Related: Top SEO Shares How To Win In The Era Of Google AI
Here’s what marketers should do based on these findings:
This research comes at the perfect time. AI search is growing rapidly. Understanding how it connects to traditional rankings gives you an edge.
Consider this: Only 25% of #1-ranked content appears in AI results. That means 75% is missing out. This suggests an opportunity for marketers who adapt.
Rudzki concludes:
“Instead of asking ‘How do I rank higher?’ start asking ‘How do I better serve users who have specific questions?’ That mindset shift is the key to thriving in the AI search era.”
For an industry experiencing rapid adoption of AI, these findings provide a strong foundation for informed strategic decisions. Instead of abandoning SEO practices, the evidence suggests building on what already works.
Featured Image: Tada Images/Shutterstock
Matt G. Southern, Senior News Writer, has been with Search Engine Journal since 2013. With a bachelor’s degree in communications, …
Join 75,000+ Digital Leaders.
Learn how to connect search, AI, and PPC into one unstoppable strategy.
Join 75,000+ Digital Leaders.
Learn how to connect search, AI, and PPC into one unstoppable strategy.
Join 75,000+ Digital Leaders.
Learn how to connect search, AI, and PPC into one unstoppable strategy.
Join 75,000+ Digital Leaders.
Learn how to connect search, AI, and PPC into one unstoppable strategy.
In a world ruled by algorithms, SEJ brings timely, relevant information for SEOs, marketers, and entrepreneurs to optimize and grow their businesses — and careers.
Copyright © 2025 Search Engine Journal. All rights reserved. Published by Alpha Brand Media.

source

9 Best Generative AI Tools I Use: Which One Leads Today? – Learn Hub | G2

Learn about our contributor guidelines, process, and timeline.
Meet the people behind the words.
Use this easy form to submit a content idea.
A collection of the best tech news and content.
Define tech jargon and acronyms with our comprehensive glossary.
Watch vendors read Bad G2 Reviews, à la Mean Tweets.
Enter your email to receive our weekly G2 Tea newsletter with the hottest marketing news, trends, and expert opinions.
June 6, 2025
by Soundarya Jayaraman  /  June 6, 2025
I’ll be honest and admit right away that when AI tools like DALL-E and GPTs started popping up, I was hyped. Then, in late 2022, when ChatGPT blew up, and suddenly everyone was talking to AI, I knew generative AI was going mainstream, and I had to check them out.
Since then, I’ve tested AI chatbots, content generators, image creators, AI video generators, and other generative AI tools. Some were great. Others? Let’s just say I spent more time setting them up than creating (looking at you, early AI image generators).
But through all the hype and half-baked tools, I’ve kept my focus on the best generative AI tools, the ones that actually help professionals, writers, coders, marketers, and creators,  work smarter, not harder.
From OpenAI’s ChatGPT to Google’s Gemini, from MidJourney’s mind-blowing images to Synthesia’s AI video magic, I’ve seen how far these tools have come.
Now, after sorting through the good, the bad, and the just plain unnecessary, I’ve put together a list of the best generative AI tools that actually deserve a spot in your workflow.
For me, generative AI tools aren’t just software. They’re creative partners, problem-solvers, and (on really busy days) lifesavers. They help me brainstorm faster, automate the tedious stuff, and unlock ideas I wouldn’t have thought of on my own.
At their core, these tools generate something new—text, images, code, videos, and even voices, based on what they’ve learned from massive datasets. But the best ones? They don’t just spit out generic results. They enhance how we think, create, and work. They give us a starting point, a creative boost, and sometimes, a much-needed reality check when we realize that AI still isn’t perfect.
I’ve had moments where AI completely transformed how I approach work and others where I’ve sat there, staring at a screen, wondering why it gave me the most ridiculous output (seriously, why does AI struggle with hands?). But that’s part of the journey: finding the tools that actually make life easier, not harder.
There are new AI tools released every day. To cut through the noise, I started with G2 data, using their grid reports across nine categories, namely, AI chatbots, coding tools, image and video generators, writing assistants, content platforms, content detectors, large language models, and more. I narrowed it down to the top five tools in each category. 
 
Beyond G2, I scoured online communities to spot trending AI tools that professionals were actually using, resulting in a shortlist of 50 AI tools.  
 
Over the next few months, my colleagues and I tested these tools within our respective domains. While I focused on AI writing assistants, chatbots, image generators, and content platforms, my colleagues, who have written extensively on AI coding tools, LLMs, content detectors, and text-to-speech apps, brought in their expertise to evaluate those categories.
 
To get a broader perspective, we also used AI to analyze and summarize thousands of user reviews (well, didn’t I say I use AI extensively in my workflow?) to understand what other users like and dislike about these tools and compare their experiences with ours.
 
I also tested platforms with enterprise-grade deployment in mind. If you’re offering products or digital services, the most efficient AI infrastructure software I came across offered developer APIs, deployment flexibility, and strong LLM integration—especially helpful for SaaS and AI-native teams.
With so many generative AI tools on the market, choosing the best isn’t just about picking the most popular names. My colleagues and I followed a structured evaluation process to test and compare each tool, ensuring we prioritized performance, usability, and real-world value over hype.
For larger teams or developers building new systems, I also explored the most recommended generative AI infrastructure for software companies, especially those integrating AI across their codebase, dev environments, and customer workflows.
Here’s the detailed checklist we used to separate the best from the rest.
After evaluating 50 AI tools across different categories, I narrowed it down to the 9 best generative AI tools. They’re reliable and friendly and make our workflow more productive and efficient. The list below contains genuine user reviews from the respective product pages on G2.
*This data was pulled from G2 in 2025. Some reviews may have been edited for clarity. 
Category:  AI chatbot software, AI code generation software
ChatGPT is probably the most well-known generative AI tool out there. I’ve used it for just everything from drafting blog posts and brainstorming marketing ideas to answering random late-night questions like “Why do cats knock things off tables?” (spoiler: they’re just tiny chaos agents). But like any tool, it’s got its strengths and a few quirks.
ChatGPT
Accessing ChatGPT is super-easy now, with no login requirement. It’s as simple as opening a site and starting to ask questions. But for features like voice mode or image generation, we need to sign up for either a free plan or a paid one.
Let me be frank here: I’m a ChatGPT Plus user. The upgrade makes a difference to me as I use it extensively for writing, coding, brainstorming, and research. The access to advanced models, like GPT-4o, GPT-4, and GPT-o, that are noticeably sharper, and the added perks (like access to new features) make it worth it. That said, the free version is still solid for everyday tasks.
Should you upgrade to ChatGPT Plus? I break it down in my full review: Is ChatGPT Plus worth it?  Check it out to see if the extra features justify the price!
ChatGPT is fast, efficient, and surprisingly good at structuring ideas when my brain refuses to cooperate. One of its biggest strengths is how versatile it is. I can ask for a witty tweet one minute and try writing a code in the next minute, and it handles both with ease. It also keeps track of context within a conversation, so I don’t have to repeat myself constantly.
My favorite feature is ChatGPT’s memory controls. I can explicitly tell it to remember things, ask what it remembers, and even reset or update its memory, either through conversation or settings.
Honestly, if I had to pick just one tool as the best generative AI infrastructure for my tech startup, ChatGPT Plus, with its advanced models, code generation, and file handling, would top the list.
Options to customize ChatGPT
But the feature that excites me the most is the ability to build custom GPTs. Instead of a one-size-fits-all chatbot, I can fine-tune ChatGPT to behave exactly how I want, whether for a specific writing style, a coding assistant, or even an AI persona for brainstorming.
I’ve relied on ChatGPT to write HTML and JavaScript for interactive tools and web pages—ones that are now live on our website. Note that I have no experience coding at all, but that hasn’t stopped me from using it to build things that actually work. ChatGPT helps me generate full scripts, optimize code, understand algorithms, and even help with debugging. 
It’s also been incredibly useful in breaking down complex datasets, writing Excel formulas I wouldn’t have figured out on my own, and even generating Pandas scripts to automate repetitive tasks. I wouldn’t have thought of using these advanced methods if not for ChatGPT honestly. And did I mention that we can now browse with SearchGPT also? If I need real-time information, I just switch to browsing mode and get up-to-date search results.
ChatGPT can also double down as an AI image generator powered by the DALL E3 model, albeit with limits on the number of images you can generate in the free tier and with fewer controls for tweaking it. I’d say there are other free AI image generators that do an even better job with more controls. 
Screenshot 2025-02-03 at 5.11.36 AM
All good things aside, ChatGPT does have its quirks. It sometimes exudes an almost comical level of confidence, even when it’s completely off the mark. So I’ve learned that fact-checking is essential. While it’s fantastic for general knowledge, I’ve noticed it can struggle with niche, highly technical, or industry-specific topics, often offering generic answers that lack the depth I need.
Occasionally, I’ve also noticed that it repeats the same information instead of offering fresh insights. While the free version is great, the limitations on chats, file uploads, and data analysis can easily feel restrictive. Even as a Plus user, I have hit limits a lot of times, and it’s sometimes annoying to wait or downgrade to another model before the limits reset. 
There are also times when ChatGPT simply doesn’t understand the prompt and gives irrelevant or generic responses, forcing me to tweak my input multiple times. 
Regardless of these hiccups, ChatGPT remains one of the most powerful generative AI assistants available today. I highly recommend you try it if you haven’t yet. 
I love this tool beyond anything! ChatGPT has made my life so simple, and I can literally ask anything that comes to my mind. It is like a friend, mentor, guide, or anything you like it to be. I can ask anything, and it gives me the answers, and after a little back-and-forth, it gives me the perfect answers every time!!”
 
ChatGPT Review, Sakshi S.
Sometimes, ChatGPT struggles with deeply nuanced or highly specialized queries. It might provide answers that are too general or miss subtle details, requiring additional clarification or manual fine-tuning.
ChatGPT Review, Shikar S.
For a detailed review of each product, you can read my article on the best AI chatbots. 
Category: Large language models, AI chatbot software
If there’s one chatbot I keep open all the time, along with ChatGPT, it’s Gemini. But if I call it just a chatbot, that doesn’t do it justice. It’s one of the top-rated large language models (LLMs) out there, optimized for everything from text generation to multimodal tasks like processing images, audio, and video.
Gemini
Gemini 2.0 Flash, the latest iteration, is designed for speed and versatility, while previous models like Gemini 1.5 Pro focused more on complex reasoning. From what I’ve seen, Google has clearly positioned Gemini as more than just a conversational AI. it’s a full-fledged LLM built to handle high-volume data processing, creative content generation, and advanced problem-solving.
It can analyze text, generate creative content, assist with coding, and even process images, making it more than just a chatbot.
With the release of Gemini 2.0 Flash, I feel it’s faster, smarter, and better at handling everyday tasks. If you’ve used Gemini 1.5 before, you’ll notice the step-up immediately. Responses feel more refined, the model understands context better, and overall, it’s just a smoother experience.
What sets Gemini apart from ChatGPT, in my experience, is its focus on natural, flowing conversation. While ChatGPT is excellent at generating text and following instructions, Gemini feels more like a true dialogue. It’s less about giving commands and more about having a back-and-forth.  I find myself using them for different purposes – ChatGPT for structured tasks, and Gemini when I want to explore ideas and have a more dynamic interaction.
Beyond conversation, Gemini has features that have impressed me over time. It supported real-time web browsing long before ChatGPT got that capability, which was a huge plus. The fact-check with Google feature is another favorite. I can easily verify AI-generated responses with sources from the web, making it especially useful when researching or cross-checking information.
Gemini fact-check
I also like its AI image generation  capabilities powered by the Imagen 3 model. It’s not as sophisticated as other AI image generators but I definitely like to play a lot with it, creating a number of images given it has no limits on number of images generated.
Whether you’re exploring multimodal content generation or building LLM-powered systems, Gemini stands out among the leading generative AI tools for enterprise applications, thanks to its speed, integrations, and fact-checking capabilities.
There are a few downsides too. One of the biggest drawbacks is the lack of file uploads for data analysis or other tasks when using the free version via the website. I can only upload images when using Gemini on browser. If I need to upload files, I am limited to the mobile app, which isn’t always convenient.
Another thing to note is that Gemini’s deeper integrations, like in Gmail, Docs, and other Google services, are only available through the Google One AI Premium Plan or for those using Google Workspace business accounts.
But here’s the thing—despite those quirks, Gemini is still one of my go-to AI tools. It’s fast, smart, and feels like an actual assistant rather than just a chatbot. If you’re someone who needs AI to help with research, content creation, or just getting through your daily workload, it’s 100% worth keeping open alongside ChatGPT.
It is the best assistant to have as a writer and editor. It can be used to brainstorm ideas for any work and is very helpful with innovative insights. It is one of the best research assistants, and it doesn’t disappoint.” 
Gemini Review, Dr. Fizza Y. 
“Sometimes, Gemini will fail to provide accurate solutions and does not accept documents and doesn’t have the ability to read and understand documents”
Gemini Review, Suma G.
Check out our in-depth article on the best LLMs.  for a detailed breakdown of their features, strengths, and use cases.
Category: AI code generation software
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a coder by trade. But ever since I started using generative AI tools, I’ve found myself diving into coding more than ever. And if there’s one tool that kept coming up in conversations with my developer friends, it was GitHub Copilot.
Github Copilot
Right off the bat, I noticed that GitHub Copilot gives users the option to choose their preferred large language model (LLM) for generating code, including GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and the o1 models from Azure OpenAI.
I gave the tool a try and immediately appreciated that I don’t have to start from scratch. I can describe what I need in plain English, and Copilot generates a working code snippet that I can tweak, much like ChatGPT. For someone like me, without a formal coding background, it’s been a huge confidence booster, helping me understand code structure, syntax, and logic without feeling overwhelmed.
For example, see how I used it to generate code for a home screen dashboard for my pet project. With a few tweaks here and there, I had a working dashboard. 
Using Githubt
That being said, my experience with GitHub Copilot is still at a beginner level, so I relied on insights from my colleague, who uses it extensively for development work.
From what I’ve seen and from their feedback, Copilot is a massive time-saver for developers, whether they’re writing new code, debugging, or automating repetitive tasks. Instead of spending hours searching through documentation, Copilot provides smart code suggestions that speed up the process and make development smoother.
Most of the time, it suggests code that they would write out anyway, and if the suggestion is wrong, they just start typing what they want, and it usually figures it out pretty quickly.
Github Copilot autocompletion
The best part, according to them? It integrates directly into their IDE (Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ), making it incredibly seamless to use. Copilot works right inside the editor, generating real-time suggestions as they type. 
If you’re looking to build from scratch, Copilot pairs well with other developer-friendly options in the best generative AI toolkits for launching a new app, like Replit, Pareto, and Salesforce Platform — each offering different levels of code generation, automation, and customization.
Of course, it’s not without its flaws. From what my colleague has shared, Copilot sometimes hallucinates functions that don’t actually exist, which can lead to unnecessary debugging. While it’s great at completing code within a single file, it struggles to analyze an entire project’s dependencies, meaning it doesn’t always “remember” everything in the broader codebase.
Irrespective of the drawbacks, GitHub Copilot is one of the best AI code generators out there. 
It excels in providing code snippets, which save a lot of time when automation repetitive tests or when dealing with complex logic. It gave us a huge advantage during migration from Cypress to the Playwright framework. (I like that I can) chat with Copilot inside VS code studio.”
 
GitHub Copilot Review, Rostyslav B.
“The model is not trained enough to comprehend a somewhat difficult question.  Sometimes it ignored the prompt that’s given, It sort of hallucinates. For example, it calls for a function of a module that doesn’t exist.” 
GitHub Copilot Review, Rheyhan F.
If you’re wondering what’s the best generative AI platform for app development, Copilot, Replit, and Crowdbotics all offer great starting points, especially for fast prototyping and real-time iteration.

Category:  AI writing assistants
If there’s one tool I’d recommend to anyone with eyes closed, that would be Grammarly. It has been my go-to AI writing assistant for years and honestly, I can’t imagine working without it.
Grammarly Free Account UI
Whether I’m writing blog posts, drafting emails, or editing content, Grammarly ensures that my writing is polished, professional, and free of grammar mistakes, typos, and awkward phrasing
If you move from the free to the paid plan, you’ll understand the real difference. With the Premium version, Grammarly does more than just fix grammar. It improves clarity, refines tone, and even suggests better sentence structures. I’ve also noticed that, over time, Grammarly has actually made me a better writer.
Wondering if Grammarly Premium is worth it? Check out this in-depth review from my Colleague, Devyani Mehta: Is Grammarly Premium Worth It?
Grammarly now has an AI writer that can generate content from scratch, whether it’s blog ideas, project reports, emails, reports, or creative pieces. The free version comes with 100 AI-generated prompts, while the Premium plan offers 1,000, which is more than enough for anyone who isn’t creating AI-written content at scale.
You can see how I started writing one of my stories on Grammarly with its Write with Generative AI feature here. 
Grammarly Write with Generative AI
I really like how I can further improve the AI-generated text by easily selecting one of the available prompts to make it more persuasive or descriptive. The best part? I can use it directly inside Google Docs, emails, and other apps to refine what I am writing with the AI suggestions. The browser extension works flawlessly. See, for instance, how I  can edit directly on Google Docs here and ask the AI assistant to rewrite a text.
Grammarly AI writing assistant
Another feature I found interesting is Grammarly’s AI content detector. It scans your text and flags sections that “resemble AI-generated text,” which could be helpful if you’re trying to balance human vs. AI-written content. However, from my testing, it seems to err on the cautious side, sometimes flagging perfectly human-written text as AI and, at times, marking completely AI-generated text as partly human text.
Still, it’s a useful tool for anyone in academia or professional writing who wants to double-check AI involvement in their content.
As useful as it is, it does have a few hiccups. One of the most common complaints that I’ve run into myself is that Grammarly sometimes misinterprets the context of a sentence and makes irrelevant suggestions. There have been moments when I was confident in my phrasing, but Grammarly insisted on a correction that didn’t actually improve the clarity or meaning.
This is especially true when I’m writing in a conversational tone. Grammarly tends to be overly aggressive with corrections, flagging sentences and phrases that are intentionally casual but correct. Sometimes, I find myself second-guessing my writing just because Grammarly keeps pushing a minor tweaks. 
Another minor gripe is the hovering “G” icon. Sometimes, it it gets in the way when I’m typing in certain text on different apps or websites. While it’s useful for quick access, there are moments when I just want it to disappear so I can focus on writing. I know there’s an option to disable the browser extension for a website or an app.  But still, an easier way to toggle it on and off when we click on the icon would make the experience smoother. 
Nonetheless, I found Grammarly to be incredibly useful. Whether you’re a content writer, student, professional, or just someone who wants to polish your writing, Grammarly is a must-have AI writing assistant in your toolkit. 
I recently started using Grammarly, and I can’t express enough how much it has improved my writing. It really helps with my writing by providing real-time feedback on grammar, punctuation, and style. The suggestions are clear and easy to understand, which helps me learn as I go along.
 
I especially appreciate the tone detector, which ensures my writing conveys the right message to my audience. Whether I’m drafting an email, writing a report, or working on an assignment, Grammarly has become an invaluable tool in my writing process. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their writing skills!
 
Grammarly Review, Jonathan L. 
 “There are certain times that the suggestions, particularly regarding tone, miss the mark or change the interpretation of the message. I also wish there was a way to dismiss a suggestion and have it remove the highlight or the notation that there is a suggestion since it can be distracting.” 
Grammarly Review, Riley B. 
For full review, read our article on the best AI writing generators
Category: AI image generators
My first encounter with AKOOL was through a mind-blowing ad campaign last year where you could swap your face into a video and “star” in a scene alongside a celebrity—all with just a selfie. It felt like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. Naturally, I had to dig deeper. That’s when I found out that AKOOL was the AI powerhouse behind it, and since then, I’ve been exploring the platform to see what else it can do.
Screenshot 2025-02-03 at 1.06.55 PM
I’ve tested its AI image generator, face-swapping, video translation, and AI avatar features, and I can see why businesses, educators, and marketers are using it. It saves an incredible amount of time while keeping video production quality high. 
AKOOL’s image-generating capabilities are on par with other AI image generators, and I am an absolute fan of its face-swapping feature. What I love the most is the ability to create custom avatars. Though it takes some time, I can create my own avatar by uploading a profile photo.
Generating custom Avatar with AKOOL
Aside from marketing use cases like the one I mentioned earlier, AKOOL’s AI avatar and video translation and editing features make it ideal for video presentations. 
Say, for example, I need to create a training video for my colleagues who are all distributed globally and speak different languages. Instead of going the traditional video production route, I can create a custom AI avatar, upload our script, and have the tool produce a complete video presentation. I can then translate it to other languages too and share it with everyone. 
It’s a practical solution for global teams, customer training, or even onboarding videos, making content more accessible and scalable without the usual video production costs.
There are also a bunch of other cool functions, like talking photos. I personally use the talking photos feature to create some fun memes, like this Monalisa one. 
Talking photos AKOOL
Even with its strengths, it has some rough edges. Creating a custom avatar takes some trial and error. While the AI avatars look impressive, getting one that actually resembles me wasn’t as straightforward as I expected. Adjusting facial features and fine-tuning details took some extra effort, and I can see how it might feel a bit cumbersome for someone who just wants a quick, ready-to-go avatar.
Also, the processing times can be a little slow, especially for high-resolution or 360-degree content, and it sometimes takes multiple attempts to get the right output. I get that quality rendering takes time, but a speed boost would make it even more efficient, particularly when handling multiple projects or working within a team.
Notwithstanding these cons, AKOOL is easily one of the most advanced AI image and video generators I’ve tried, especially when it comes to face-swapping, AI avatars, and multilingual video creation. The only catch? The free plan gives you just 100 credits, so you’ll burn through them pretty fast if you’re testing out different features. 
That said, if you’re looking for a way to create high-quality AI-generated videos without spending hours editing, it’s definitely worth checking out.
The AI Image generation feature in AKOOL is just awesome. It’s surprisingly simple to create decent looking pictures from basic text inputs. This has saved us tons of time on design projects. Sharing projects and working on them at the same time has increased our efficiency tremendously.” 
 
AKOOL Review, Nadine P.
I have seen a few glitches with rendering videos from time to time, and this can be a bummer if you are working on a deadline. A stable performance would be great.” 
AKOOL Review, Allan B. 
Category: AI video generators, Text-to-speech (TTS) software
I first came across Synthesia when I was looking for a way to create AI-powered training videos without having to record myself on camera. I wanted something fast, professional, and easy to use, and after testing it for a while, I can confidently say that Synthesia is one of the best AI video generators out there.
Synthesia
Now I’ll say this upfront: Unlike AI video tools like Runway or OpenAI’s Sora, which focus more on cinematic, AI-generated scenes, Synthesia is built for business. It’s great for corporate training, explainer content, and marketing videos, making it a great choice for anyone who wants high-quality videos without the hassle of filming, editing, or hiring a production team. So, if you are looking for generative cinematic or imaginary scenes, check out the other recommendation list in the callout below. 
Using Synthesia is simple. I can pick from a bunch of realistic AI avatars or even create my own, choose a video template, drop in my script, edit transitions and graphics, add AI voiceovers, and boom—my video is ready. It’s all done without needing a camera, microphone, or editing software.
One of the best parts? The templates and AI voiceovers. Instead of spending hours editing the video, adding text, recording, and syncing audio, the AI handles everything for me. What I love most about AI in this format is how repeatable and consistent it is. Once I figured out the process, I could crank out videos in no time.
Plus, it supports multiple languages, so I can easily create videos for different audiences without re-recording, hiring a voice artist, or manually adding subtitles. However, the one-click translation of videos to other languages is available only in the Enterprise plan, along with other features like importing PowerPoint or adding our own voiceovers.
That brings me to a few areas where Synthesia could improve. While the AI voice synthesis is pretty solid, I’ve had moments where it still sounded a little robotic or flat, especially in longer scripts. A bit more natural variation in tone and inflection would make a huge difference. I’ve also noticed that pronunciations aren’t always perfect, which means I sometimes have to tweak the phrasing or spell words phonetically to get the right delivery.
Another minor gripe is the lip sync. Most of the time, it looks smooth, but every now and then, it feels slightly off, especially with more complex sentences. It’s not a major issue but a little more refinement in facial movements would make the avatars even more realistic. 
But these issues aside, Synthesia is one of the best AI video tools I’ve used for business content. It’s not without drawbacks, but if you need high-quality videos without filming, it’s worth trying. 
Currently, free users can create 3 minutes of AI-generated video using Synthesia. 
“Absolutely love the choice of avatars and voices within Synthesia. A big plus was their ethics as well – you cannot upload images or videos of other people here – this is very important to me. It is also super easy to use – I have been using it to add depth to my elearning process videos for software training – it makes it so much more professional and engaging – at least I hope it does!” 
Synthesia Review, Julie F. 
“There are areas that need improvement. When incorporating screen recordings, I sometimes encountered synchronization delays or issues when adding videos to a “slide,” which required multiple retakes to align everything correctly. Another drawback is that the video preview often doesn’t match the final export. This inconsistency forced me to generate mid-version exports just to verify the output, leading to an early depletion of my generation minutes.
Speaking of generation minutes, their limitation is arguably Synthesia’s biggest drawback. Either the previews need to work seamlessly as accurate representations of the final export, or the allocation of generation minutes should be more generous to account for these discrepancies.”
Synthesia Review, Riccardo Z. 
Category: Text-to-speech (TTS) software
Murf.ai has quickly become one of my favorite AI text-to-speech tools, and for good reason. One of my mom’s pet projects is creating video lessons for students by using the lesson script. I’ve tested a bunch of text-to-speech apps to help her do this quickly at scale, but Murf.ai really stood out for its realistic, natural-sounding voices.
A lot of AI-generated voices still sound robotic or emotionless, but I felt Murf’s second-generation of voices actually capture tone and emphasis, making the narration feel far more human-like. I could filter voice by age, gender, and voice styles and select what type of project it is, say, promo, narration or newscast or even select emotions like sad, cheerful, and more. 
Screenshot 2025-02-04 at 6.07.42 AM
Beyond just sounding good, Murf gives me full control over the voice output. I can adjust pitch, speed, pauses, and emphasis to fine-tune the delivery. It makes it perfect for tutorials, e-learning, storytelling, podcasts and even marketing content. The ability to choose from multiple languages and accents is another major plus, making it a great option for global content.
Murf.ai
Another small but useful feature is the ability to break down text into sentences for easy editing. Instead of redoing an entire section, I can just tweak individual lines and reprocess them—a huge time-saver. 
Something that I absolutely love is the pronunciation feature where I can specify how I want specific words to be pronounced in the audio, I could even create my own library of words with specific pronunciations. 
But that said, it’s not all smooth sailing. Murf’s free plan gives plenty of room to test the tool, allowing me to create up to 10 minutes of audio from my script. It’s great for getting a feel for the voices and features, but there’s a catch. While I could preview everything, I couldn’t download them without upgrading to one of their paid plans.
I also found that some of the advanced features, like AI translations, custom voices, voice changeovers, and high-speed rendering of output, are locked in behind higher-tier plans, some of which I wanted to use. So, if you’re on a basic plan, you might find yourself wishing for more. 
Also, while Murf has a great library of voices, especially for US and UK English, I felt that some regions don’t have enough local voice options, and there aren’t many child-specific voices either. I know it’s a work in progress, but it would be great to see more diversity in voice selections, especially for content that requires a more regionally authentic or kid-friendly tone.
Despite these drawbacks, Murf.ai is still one of the best AI voice generators available. It’s easy to use and produces high-quality, natural-sounding speech that makes content creation much easier.
I liked that their free trial gave me enough time/credits to evaluate the quality of the voices. The voice generation has done well for the project I am working on. I like that Murf.ai can break the text into sentences so that I can make corrections at that level. The ability to add pauses is nice, and they have a good selection of stock music to choose from.”
 
Murf.ai Review, Steve O. 
It is a shame that the most powerful parts of the product incuding, say it as I would, and variations of expression are reserved for those who can pay high premium prizes. It would have been nice to be given some access to these features for those who create for a living but don’t have extensive finances.”
Murf.ai Review, Verfied G2 user.
You can read the detailed review of each product in our article on the best free text-to-speech apps
Category: AI content creation platforms
Canva has been my go-to for quick and easy designs for years now, but with the new AI-powered features like Magic Media and Dream Labs, it’s more powerful than ever. Whether I need to design social media posts, presentations, or even marketing videos, Canva makes it ridiculously simple—no need for a professional design background.
Canva Dream Labs
Magic Media is where things get interesting. It allows me to generate images, graphics, and even videos using AI, all without leaving the Canva editor. Instead of searching for stock photos or manually tweaking visuals, I can type in what I need, and Canva’s AI creates a custom image for me.
Canva Magic Media
I absolutely love the suite of Magic editing tools, too, be it the background eraser, Magic Edit to change color or one particular aspect of the image, or Magic Grab to move an object in a photo. I dig them. 
Then there’s Magic Write, Canva’s AI-powered writing tool. I use it for brainstorming text ideas, rewriting content, and adjusting tone as I design. As seen in the image above, it even lets me select how the AI rewrites text, whether I want something shorter, more formal, or even more fun (I may or may not have tested the “Sprinkle fairy dust” option just out of curiosity). It’s especially useful when I need to quickly tweak copy for a social post, blog snippet, or presentation slide.
Magic Write
In my opinion, what makes Canva stand out is that it’s an all-in-one design platform that combines AI-powered tools, intuitive editing, and ready-made templates. It’s why Canva often shows up in lists featuring the best options for generative AI infrastructure in the SaaS industry. Its workflow-friendly interface and built-in AI toolset are ideal for fast-moving product and marketing teams.
Unlike most other AI tools that focus on just image generation, video creation, or text editing, Canva brings everything together. I do not have to use an AI writer, then an AI image generator or video generators and then take the design to Canva or other editing software to polish. I can do it all without leaving Canva, which is a huge time-saver.
Now, Canva isn’t perfect. The AI-generated images don’t always hit the mark for me, like many other AI image generators, especially when it comes to human stock photos, and I sometimes have to manually refine the design to get it right.
Canva stock photo
Another limitation is that many of Canva’s AI tools, like Magic Media and advanced AI-generated media come with some limits for free users. For instance, free users are limited to 50 credits for Magic Media’s text-to-image feature and 20 lifetime uses of Dream Lab. 
Even with its limitations, Canva is hands-down one of the easiest generative AI tools for content creation,. If you need a tool for design, writing, and media generation, I’d recommend it in a heartbeat.
“I love Canva’s Magic Media tools. They make it so easy for me to create graphics for my company. Their ease of use is amazing.” 
Canva Review, Colin W. 
“It is a great platform for beginners, but some of its AI features do not work perfectly. Also, its premuim cost is also very high.”
Canva Review, Manoj J. 
Category: AI content detectors
Given that I’ve tested multiple AI writing tools, content generators, and chatbots, it only made sense to try AI content detectors too. Because let’s be real—nobody wants to read another article that starts with “In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape…”
GPTZero
GPTZero was the first AI content detector I heard about, and it’s still one of the most widely used. It launched right when AI-generated content started raising concerns in education, publishing, and professional writing. While plenty of AI detectors have popped up since GPTZero remains one of the most trusted tools for identifying AI-written text.
I’ve used it extensively and have seen it used everywhere, from teachers checking student essays to businesses verifying content originality. What makes GPTZero stand out is its ease of use and accessibility. I could scan up to 10,000 words a month for free, and I actually did the first few checks without even signing up. 
I found it particularly useful when running checks on long-form AI-generated content since it provides a clear breakdown of which parts were likely written by AI, edited by AI, or fully human-written. I like how it color codes what’s probably AI written, and what’s probably it thinks is written by a human.
Another feature that stood out to me was the writing feedback tool. It’s not as advanced as Grammarly or other dedicated writing assistants, but I liked that I could edit the text directly within GPTZero right after running a scan. It’s a small but useful touch, making it easy to refine content without switching between multiple tools.
GPTZero
Now, if I am not directly using the app or website, I really like how I can integrate it into my workflow as well. I personally find the browser extension for Google Docs super convenient since it lets me check text without switching between tabs. 
I can also embed it into existing systems via API, which is a huge plus for businesses and educational institutions that need AI content detection at scale. Educators will probably appreciate its integrations with LMS platforms like Moodle and Google Classroom, making it easier to scan student submissions without extra steps.
Even with its strengths, it’s not foolproof. One of the biggest concerns I have is that GPTZero can sometimes misclassify human-written content as AI-generated and vice versa. So, it’s best to use our judgment at times to take a call on content. 
It also has limited ability to detect paraphrased or AI-altered text. If a piece of content was generated by AI and then lightly rewritten or reworded, GPTZero might not always flag it as AI-written, which makes it less effective for checking.
And also, the free plan limits can feel a little restrictive if you are a content writer like me and want to use the tool extensively. Even so, GPTZero is worth using if you need a straightforward way to check if a piece of writing is AI-generated.
Just keep in mind that no AI detection tool is 100% accurate, so it’s best to use it as part of a larger verification process.
“The best part is the ability to detect AI-generated content with 95% accuracy. As a lead manager, my daily task is to check the content’s originality and integrity. I always need to check the content before submitting further. With this I can easily able to detect the content that it is written by a human or AI, this tool is a lifesaver for me.
 
I just need to provide the content. It analyzes the content and highlights whether it’s written by a human or AI in seconds. I can easily upload the file, and it will analyse it and give me a detailed report on which part is written by a human, AI, or AI-altered content.
 
GPTZero Review, Lacey D.
GPTZero is not a 100% foolproof method for AI detection. It can sometimes provide the wrong conclusion or wrong percentage of AI-written text, though it is designed for search engine optimization and ensuring the authenticity of online and published content.
It is recommened to use it alongside other detection tools as it has limited detection for altered AI text. If a text is taken from AI and rephrased, it may not be identified by GPTZero. 
GPTZero Review, Sheetal J
Read the detailed review of each tool in this article on best AI content detectors
Based on my testing and G2 reviews, the go-to stack for most service companies includes ChatGPT or Gemini for content and support, GitHub Copilot for dev work, and Grammarly or Jasper for marketing. If you’re wondering what AI infrastructure everyone uses for service companies, these tools dominate across support, dev, and content ops.
I have a few more honorable mentions based on popular choices that are worth checking out. While they didn’t make it to my main list, they’re fantastic in their own right. 
Chat with AI Monty
These tools rely on large language models (LLMs) and multimodal AI trained on vast datasets. They predict and generate content by recognizing patterns in data. Some models, like GPT-4 and Claude, specialize in text, while others, like DALL·E and Midjourney, focus on image generation.
The best tool depends on your needs:
Many generative AI tools offer free versions with limitations. For example, ChatGPT has a free plan, but GPT-4 is behind a paywall. Gemini allows free users to generate unlimited images, while others, like Midjourney, require subscriptions for full access.
Not entirely! AI is a powerful assistant, not a replacement for human creativity. While it can generate content, refine ideas, and automate tasks, it still relies on human input, guidance, and critical thinking to produce truly valuable work.
Key risks include misinformation, plagiarism, bias, and data privacy concerns. AI models can sometimes generate inaccurate or misleading information, so fact-checking is crucial. Businesses should also be mindful of copyright issues when using AI-generated content.
Yes! Tools like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and Gemini are excellent for writing and debugging code. They help developers speed up tasks, generate scripts, and even suggest fixes for errors. However, AI-generated code should always be reviewed for security and accuracy.
If you’re in SaaS, the best infrastructure combines AI chat (like ChatGPT or Gemini), dev tools (like GitHub Copilot), and content generators (like Canva or Jasper). Based on my testing and G2 data, this combo offers flexibility, scale, and solid integrations for app development and customer engagement.
For startups moving fast, I recommend tools that work out of the box and scale as you grow. ChatGPT for ideation and coding, Gemini for research, and Copilot for app logic are my go-tos. These are also among the best generative AI platforms for launching a new product quickly.
Small businesses often rely on user-friendly tools with freemium plans. Based on G2 reviews and my experience, the top picks include Grammarly, Canva, ChatGPT, and Synthesia. Each helps with writing, design, customer content, or presentations. These rank among the top generative AI software providers for small businesses.
GitHub Copilot, Replit, and ChatGPT are great for AI-assisted app dev. For UI content and marketing, I use Canva or Writesonic. If you’re wondering what’s the best generative AI platform for app development, this blend works across planning, coding, and launch.
Yes. Service-based businesses benefit from tools that streamline communication and content, like Gemini for FAQs, Murf.ai for voiceovers, and GPTZero for verifying AI content. If you’re asking what AI infrastructure service companies rely on, this trio hits content, audio, and trust.
Enterprise teams need scalable, secure tools with APIs and admin controls. Google’s Gemini, OpenAI’s ChatGPT Enterprise, and Salesforce’s Einstein AI are top-tier choices. These are often called the most reliable generative AI infrastructure tools for enterprise applications.
After trying these tools for so many days, one thing is obvious to me: there’s no single “best” AI — only the best one for what you need. The real advantage isn’t just in what these models generate, but how seamlessly they fit into our workflow, enhancing productivity, creativity, and even decision-making in ways that feel almost second nature.
Across all tools I tested, OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft emerged as leaders in the space. So if you’re asking which company offers the most reliable AI infrastructure tools, these three consistently deliver on scale, performance, and model stability.
For me, the best generative AI tool depends on what I need at the moment. If I’m writing a long-form article, I’ll lean on ChatGPT. If I want up-to-date, fact-checked information, Gemini is my go-to. And when I need creative brainstorming or image generation, there are plenty of specialized tools to choose from.
So here’s my takeaway: don’t settle for just one AI tool. Experiment, mix, and match. Use ChatGPT for writing, Gemini for real-time insights, Claude for complex reasoning, and AI art tools when creativity calls. The real power of generative AI isn’t just in what it can create. It’s in how we use it to enhance the way we work, think, and innovate.
Stay ahead of AI legal risks. Read this guide with tips from a legal expert on how to use generative AI tools safely in the workspace
Soundarya Jayaraman is a Content Marketing Specialist at G2, focusing on cybersecurity. Formerly a reporter, Soundarya now covers the evolving cybersecurity landscape, how it affects businesses and individuals, and how technology can help. You can find her extensive writings on cloud security and zero-day attacks. When not writing, you can find her painting or reading.
Tech
You know you’re living in the future when choosing your AI sidekick feels more like deciding…
Artificial Intelligence
I’ve tried just about every major AI image generator out there: DALL·E, Stable Diffusion,…

As a marketer and an AI enthusiast, I’m always looking for tools that make creativity faster,…
Tech
You know you’re living in the future when choosing your AI sidekick feels more like deciding…
Artificial Intelligence
I’ve tried just about every major AI image generator out there: DALL·E, Stable Diffusion,…
By downloading this guide, you are also subscribing to the weekly G2 Tea newsletter to receive marketing news and trends. You can learn more about G2’s privacy policy here.

source

SmartFinds Marketing Unveils Comprehensive AI & SEO Guide Download for Free – GlobeNewswire

 | Source: SmartFinds Marketing SmartFinds Marketing
Birmingham, MI, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to transform the digital marketing landscape, businesses must rethink their search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to remain competitive. To help businesses navigate these changes, SmartFinds Marketing has released a powerful new resource: “The Future of SEO in an AI-Driven World: Your Roadmap to Success.” This free, in-depth guide provides actionable insights for companies looking to adapt their SEO approach to an AI-first world.
With AI-powered search engines and chatbots like Bard, ChatGPT, and Bing AI providing instant answers to user queries, traditional SEO strategies are being disrupted. Businesses that fail to adjust risk losing visibility, organic traffic, and lead generation opportunities. This guide explores the shifting role of SEO, offering practical, expert-backed strategies to ensure companies remain visible in search results, attract high-quality leads, and optimize their digital marketing for AI-driven search.
Key Insights from the Guide:
Why This Guide is a Must-Read for Businesses
“The digital marketing landscape continues to evolve and mature at an unprecedented pace,” said Melih Oztalay, CEO of SmartFinds Marketing. “Search engines are no longer the sole gateway to online discovery—AI chatbots and voice search assistants are redefining how businesses are found online. Our guide provides the business community with the insights and strategies they need to not just survive but thrive in this AI-powered era. Companies that fail to adapt will lose their competitive edge, but those who embrace AI-driven marketing strategies will position themselves as industry leaders.”
With a legacy of over 30 years in marketing innovation, SmartFinds Marketing has continuously evolved to stay ahead of industry shifts. Today, we lead the charge in AI-powered digital strategies, specializing in advanced SEO, AI-driven content marketing, high-impact lead generation, and data-driven digital transformation solutions. Our expertise bridges the gap between traditional marketing principles and cutting-edge technology, helping businesses navigate and dominate the AI-driven digital landscape.
This latest guide is a must-have tool for businesses looking to stay ahead of emerging AI trends and optimize their online presence effectively.
Download the Free Guide Today
Businesses looking to future-proof their SEO strategies for both search engines and Artificial Intelligence can download “The Future of SEO in an AI-Driven World”.
For companies that require personalized insights and strategic direction, SmartFinds Marketing is offering a complimentary consultation. This one-on-one session will provide businesses with tailored solutions to adapt to AI-driven search trends and implement best-in-class digital marketing strategies. Book your meeting.
How This Guide Helps Businesses Thrive in an AI-Driven Market
The guide not only explores the latest AI-powered search developments but also provides businesses with step-by-step guidance on optimizing their digital marketing strategies for the future of search. Key sections include:
By following the strategies outlined in the guide, businesses can increase their online visibility, strengthen brand authority, and drive high-quality leads in an AI-first digital economy.
About SmartFinds Marketing
Established in 1987, SmartFinds Marketing is an award-winning, data-driven digital marketing agency based in Birmingham, MI. With a seasoned team that has collaborated for over a decade, SmartFinds specializes in harnessing AI-powered strategies, cutting-edge technologies, and forward-thinking marketing solutions to help businesses accelerate growth in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
From SEO and paid search marketing to content strategy, lead generation, and performance analytics, SmartFinds takes a holistic, results-driven approach to digital marketing. By leveraging data intelligence and continuous optimization, the agency ensures every campaign delivers measurable success and tangible business outcomes.
With a legacy of innovation and adaptability, SmartFinds Marketing has empowered national and global brands to break free from outdated marketing tactics and embrace strategies that drive real, sustainable growth. As businesses navigate the complexities of 2025 and beyond, SmartFinds remains a trusted partner in shaping the future of digital marketing.
For more information, visit www.smartfindsmarketing.com or https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartfinds-marketing/

Attachments
SmartFinds Marketing appoints Joe Beck as CSO to lead sales growth, leveraging 35+ years of experience and $500M+ in revenue generation.

source

Pixel VIPs, Android 16 and more updates in the June Pixel Drop – Google Blog

Jun 10, 2025
Dive into the latest Pixel features, including Pixel VIPs, improved accessibility and more.

The June Pixel Drop is here, so update your Pixel device to get the newest features. You can now create Pixel VIPs, custom Gboard stickers, and use expanded Satellite SOS. Also, explore enhanced accessibility features like live search in Magnifier and AI-powered editing in Google Photos.

  • The June Pixel Drop brings cool updates to your Pixel phone, making it more helpful and personalized.
  • “Pixel VIPs” widget lets you keep in touch with your favorite people, even bypassing Do Not Disturb.
  • Gboard now lets you create custom stickers with AI, using text prompts or photos from your camera roll.
  • Satellite SOS expands to Australia, and Recorder gets AI summaries in French and German.
  • Magnifier app now has live search, and Android 16 brings new LE audio features for hearing aids.

Your Pixel just got an upgrade with the June Pixel Drop, full of new features and updates that make your devices more helpful, personalized and accessible. 1 Android 16 also starts rolling out to Pixel devices today. Here are a few new things you can do with your Pixel!
Friends and family are the VIPs in your life — and now you can make them the VIPs in your phone. Available only on Pixel, the new Pixel VIPs widget from the Contacts app helps you stay connected to your favorite people. To get the best Pixel VIPs experience, make sure you add as many details as you can, like birthdays, emails, home addresses and preferences. You can view your last call and message with your VIPs (including ones from WhatsApp), see their location when shared, receive updates for important events like birthdays and more. VIPs can also bypass Do Not Disturb, so you can always stay in touch with the people who matter to you most. 2 And sensitive data – like your call log or content of your messages – never leaves your device.
With help from Pixel Studio, you can create a sticker of nearly anything you can imagine right on Gboard, thanks to generative AI. 3 Simply type in your prompt, choose the right emotion and send, without having to switch apps. Need some ideas? An excited jelly avocado, a sad starfish wearing sunglasses, sparkly blue sneakers — these are just a few of the many possibilities. You can even make stickers from photos in your camera roll — the background from an image will be automatically removed so the object of focus becomes your sticker.
We’re bringing existing Pixel features to even more users. Satellite SOS is now available in Australia, so you can connect with emergency services without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. 4 And the Recorder app can now provide AI-generated summaries of your recordings in French and German. 5
We’re also bringing Clear voice in the Recorder App to Pixel 8 phones, so you can remove background noises from recordings for crystal-clear audio. 6
Pixel users can now tap the question mark icon in the upper right hand corner of Pixel’s Camera to see visual inspiration of what each mode does, along with helpful how-to instructions. This new education hub will help you to get the most out of your Pixel Camera.
You can now use live search in the Magnifier 7 app in Pixel to help you learn more about your surroundings in real time — without needing to take a picture first. Instead, you can type what you’re looking for, like an item on a menu, and Magnifier will highlight matches on the screen as you move your phone. Your phone will also give a little vibration when it finds something.
Now you can also use new LE audio features with hearing aids on Pixel 9 and newer phones running Android 16. This makes it easy for you to take calls on the go and access your hearing aid presets, as well as change your ambient volume through your Pixel phone settings. 8
Expressive Captions 9 aims to understand the intensity, nuance and emotion conveyed through speech and now it can even capture elongated words (yessss!). And it’s available in even more countries beyond the U.S., including Canada, the U.K. and Australia.
Soon, editing in Google Photos 10 will put more power at your fingertips so you can fine-tune your pics in just a few steps. You’ll get AI-powered suggestions that enhance your photos in just a single tap, plus instant access to recommended tools based on what you select to edit and easier access to your favorite tools for complete control.
For the full list of features arriving on your devices in June, check out our community forum post. And be sure to check out more new features coming to Android starting today.
Your Pixel will generally receive Pixel Drops during the applicable Android update and support periods for the phone. See g.co/pixel/updates for details. Availability of some Pixel Drops may vary by phone and device model. Phone, earbuds, watch, and tablet sold separately.
Available on Pixel 6 and newer. Supports Google Messages and WhatsApp services only.
Available on Pixel 9 phones in select countries in English, Japanese, and German only.
Restrictions apply. No additional setup is required. Service included at no additional charge for the first two years after activation of devices. Available only on Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Service is available in US, Canada, UK, Europe, and Australia. Connection and response times vary based on location, site conditions, and other factors. See g.co/pixel/satellitesos for details.
Available only on Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold only in English, Japanese, German, and French. Available on Pixel 8 series and Pixel 9a in English only.
Compared to the previous version of the Recorder App. Available only on Pixel 8 and newer.
Available on Pixel 5 and newer, excluding Pixel Tablet and foldable devices.
Requires Pixel 9 or newer, running Android 16+, and LE Audio hearing devices. Devices must be within Bluetooth sharing distance. Some features, such as ambient volume control, require hearing aid manufacturer support.
Available on Pixel 6 and newer Pixel phones, and other compatible Android devices, running Android 15 or newer. Available only in English in US, CA, UK, and AU. Captions may vary. Check responses for accuracy. Not compatible with phone calls or Netflix.
Results may vary. Available to users 18+.
Let’s stay in touch. Get the latest news from Google in your inbox.
Follow Us

source

Smart ways to use AI in your digital marketing strategy – iTWire

GUEST OPINION: If digital marketing is still just publishing without rethinking the strategy, hoping for the best, you truly need to consider how you’re doing it.
And what’s the new MVP to lay your eyes on? AI it is. Real tools and quick, accurate results. So let’s drop the clichés. No fluff, no filler, just a practical map for marketers who want to do better and faster.
AI isn’t an experimental toy anymore. It gives you more than just a way to impress clients. It’s  the key to unlocking smarter, more effective marketing strategies. Still, that’s true if you don’t overuse it or rely solely on its potential.
Let’s not romanticise “doing things manually.” When generative AI can create promos from scratch or apps automate your campaign scheduling, that time goes back into strategy, creative thinking, or simply getting home earlier.
AI isn’t just faster. It thinks differently. It catches patterns, connects data, and proposes ideas that human brains—stuck in routine—often miss. You get a constant stream of “what if” ideas you might’ve never thought of.
You want to grow? You’ll need to scale. And humans alone can’t keep up with the demands of modern content, ad targeting, or customer engagement. AI marketing tools multiply your efforts without multiplying the team.
This isn’t a “robots will replace your job” situation. AI is powerful but still kind of far away from fulfilling it’s job to 100%. Think of it as the one who doesn’t sleep and doesn’t charge by the hour. Here’s how to make the most of that power.
Let’s bring an example of product photography. Nowadays, you don’t even need to download pro-level programs for that – you can have an online AI photo editor, like Photoroom.
Want to change the picture’s background, adjust the lighting, or generate different visual styles from one base photo to bring spice to your e-commerce, SMM, or advertising? It happens in a few taps.
Similarly, if you want, for example, to quickly remove background from a video or overlay subtitles, Movavi has an editor with these specific AI tools, making post-production much easier even for small editorial teams or just beginners.
Chatbots are incredibly annoying: this was the thing in 2017, it’s still relevant in 2025. Still, they’re smarter than most junior support staff.
Chatfuel, for instance, lets businesses build intelligent bots that can guide users through questions, recommend products, and even close a sale—all via messengers and socials. Helps with business promotion and improves conversion, human team stepping aside for much complicated stuff.
It’s AI for marketing that speaks human—literally.
Writer’s block is now a choice. You can brainstorm, scrape trends, test formats, and even predict what type of content might perform well. Want to refresh your ad visuals? AI can generate dozens of variations to A/B test.
It’s not about creativity replacement but supercharging your editorial process.
Analytics isn’t fun. But AI makes it bearable—and way more useful.
Instead of manually filtering through bounce rates and time-on-page stats, modern AI in marketing algorithms delivers pattern recognition. They’ll show you which creatives led to clicks, what kind of language performed well in ads, and which audience segments to stop wasting money on.
For marketers dealing with multi-platform campaigns across advertising, email, and SMM, this kind of insight is gold. It’s the kind of clarity traditional dashboards just don’t offer.
There’s no point in sprinkling AI on top of a dusty marketing plan. To make AI for marketing work, it should be built into the bones of your strategy. Think workflows, not tools. How can AI fit into your planning, production, promotion, and feedback loop? That’s the real win.
And yes—keep the human touch where it counts. AI should do the grunt work, not your storytelling.
Smart use of AI is all about unlocking their time, their ideas, and their reach. And with AI programs already making magic in the backstage, the future of business promotion doesn’t just look smarter—it is smarter.

REGISTER!

PROMOTE YOUR WEBINAR ON ITWIRE

It’s all about Webinars.

Marketing budgets are now focused on Webinars combined with Lead Generation.

If you wish to promote a Webinar we recommend at least a 3 to 4 week campaign prior to your event.

The iTWire campaign will include extensive adverts on our News Site itwire.com and prominent Newsletter promotion https://itwire.com/itwire-update.html and Promotional News & Editorial. Plus a video interview of the key speaker on iTWire TV https://www.youtube.com/c/iTWireTV/videos which will be used in Promotional Posts on the iTWire Home Page.

Now we are coming out of Lockdown iTWire will be focussed to assisting with your webinars and campaigns and assistance via part payments and extended terms, a Webinar Business Booster Pack and other supportive programs. We can also create your adverts and written content plus coordinate your video interview.

We look forward to discussing your campaign goals with you. Please click the button below.

MORE INFO HERE!

MORE INFO HERE!


Most cybersecurity is making up for weak platforms. We need to address the fundamentals, design platforms that prevent out-of-bounds access[…]
For most developers the security/performance trade off is still the hardest one to tackle, even as the cost of processing[…]
RISC has been overhyped. While it is an interesting low-level processor architecture, what the world needs is high-level system architectures,[…]
There are two flaws that are widespread in the industry here. The first is that any platform or language should[…]
Ajai Chowdhry, one of the founders and CEO of HCL is married to a cousin of a cousin of mine.[…]

source

Google updates Pixel Magnifier with real-time text search [U] – 9to5Google

Following version 2.0 at Made by Google last year, the latest update to Pixel Magnifier introduces live text search.
Update 6/12: Announced as part of the June 2025 Pixel Feature Drop, this update to Magnifier is now widely rolled out: “Search for text straight from the viewfinder without having to take a photo in order to quickly find items in a grocery store, or to find an address.”
In addition to live search, Google has also improved the “Back and Restore” experience: “Magnifier auto-downloads and restores backed-up data when you switch to a new device.”
Original 6/9: Instead of “Reset zoom” underneath the shutter button, there’s now a magnifying glass icon. The last big update in August introduced text search after you take a picture, as well as manual lens selection, setting a volume key action, picture-in-picture guidance, and selfie illumination.
The search capability is now available in the viewfinder as you pan across a live scene. You type the term you’re looking for (be sure to press enter) in the real-world and then “Move camera to search.” When a match is found, the Magnifier app sends a haptic vibration and visually highlights where it is in front of you. Across from the flash button, a “blur” icon lets you “remove the darkened background.”
In concept, it’s similar to the latest Project Astra demo, but you have to manually enter a phrase instead of being able to conversationally describe what you’re looking for in a scene.
Version 2.0.0.745828117 of Pixel Magnifier with live text search is rolling out via the Play Store, but it’s not yet widely rolled out. The app is still not available for the Pixel Fold (or Tablet).
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news:
The Pixel is the smaller of two smartphones desi…
Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com

source

Win SEO in the Age of LLMs: Strategies for AI Visibility – HackerNoon

Search is going through another evolution—and this time, it’s more than just another algorithm update. With the rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s GPT, Google’s Gemini, and Meta’s LLaMA, the way people find and interact with information is changing rapidly. These advanced models are being woven into search experiences, voice assistants, and everyday digital tools. We’re moving past the era of simply ranking in the top ten blue links; now, the real win is becoming part of the answer itself.

So, how do we pivot our SEO strategies to thrive in this new environment where AI can generate, summarize, and sometimes cite our content? In this article, we’ll explore how SEO experts can position their content to stay relevant in the age of LLMs, with a practical blend of strategy, technical enhancements, and AI-aware content design.
The first step to optimizing for LLMs is understanding how they work. These models are trained on a vast pool of public content, from blogs and academic articles to forums and documentation. They learn patterns, context, and associations—not in real time, but from training data.

That said, newer tools like ChatGPT with browsing and Perplexity.ai introduce a hybrid model, combining language generation with real-time retrieval. That means your content could be retrieved live and cited in responses. For SEO, this changes the goal: it’s not just about where you rank, but whether your content is authoritative, clear, and relevant enough to be selected by an AI to support its answers.
Based on hands-on testing with tools like ChatGPT (Browse), Bing Copilot, Google’s AI Overviews, and Perplexity, here’s what I’ve noticed consistently works when it comes to structuring content that performs well in AI-powered search environments:

Clear Heading Structure: LLMs rely heavily on H1, H2, and H3 tags to understand content hierarchy. Pages that use consistent and meaningful headings are easier for these models to interpret, unlike pages cluttered with complex layouts or poor HTML structure.

Concise, Purposeful Paragraphs: Keep your paragraphs short and focused. LLMs are much better at extracting value from clear, self-contained points than they are at digging through long blocks of text. Stick to one idea per paragraph where possible.

Use of Structured Elements (Lists, Tables, FAQs): Formats like bullet points, numbered lists, tables, and FAQ sections are incredibly effective. Not only do they help readers scan quickly, but they also increase the chances of your content being pulled into featured snippets or AI-generated answers.

Clear Topic Definition Early On: Get to the point. Summarize the value or objective of your content near the top. Don’t bury useful information under long intros or brand fluff—models (and users) will often skip past it.

Semantic Signposting Throughout the Text: Phrases like “in summary,” “key takeaway,” “step-by-step,” and “a common mistake is…” act as signposts for models and readers alike. They help structure the content and make it easier to extract meaning and relevance. There's a reason AI-generated content uses them so often—it works. And frankly, many human-written pages could benefit from applying the same clarity and structure.
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) in SEO refers to a process where AI systems, like ChatGPT with web browsing or Perplexity.ai, combine traditional search engine retrieval with language generation to deliver more accurate, up-to-date, and context-rich responses. Unlike static LLMs that rely solely on their training data, RAG models actively search the web in real time, retrieve relevant documents or web pages, and then generate an answer based on both the retrieved content and their own understanding. Why it matters for SEO: In a RAG-powered environment, your content isn’t just competing for rankings on a results page—it’s competing to be retrieved and cited in real-time answers generated by AI. That means SEO strategies must now focus on: Clear, structured content that directly answers common questions.

To stand out in this environment, you need content that:
FAQs, how-to guides, and crisp definitions are especially powerful in RAG-based systems. Structure your pages so they can easily be understood, retrieved, and used in AI-generated summaries.
When we talk about content, it's important to remember it’s not just about text. Content comes in many forms—videos, infographics, tools, interactive elements, and more. Before creating anything, take the time to understand user intent by analyzing how people search in both traditional search engines and LLMs. This insight helps you determine which content format will be most useful and engaging for your audience based on what they’re really looking for. Matching the content type to the intent is key to driving performance.

As an SEO expert, it's important to recognize that LLMs are evolving rapidly—they’re no longer just processing plain text. Today’s models are increasingly capable of interpreting images, videos, and even audio content as part of the overall user experience. That means your SEO strategy needs to go beyond optimizing copy. It’s time to take video SEO, image SEO, and audio SEO seriously:

Add descriptive alt text to all images
Use schema markup for visual and video content
Provide captions and transcripts for video
Use descriptive images for podcast and videos

These simple steps help AI understand and contextualize all elements on your page, not just the text.
AI systems prioritize content that is structured, educational, and easy to distill. Think in blocks: clear headlines, short paragraphs, logical sections.

Best practices include:

The easier it is for an LLM to summarize your content accurately, the more likely you are to be featured in AI answers.
Schema markup is no longer optional. It provides machines with the context they need to understand your content's structure, meaning, and relevance.

Add schema types like:
Doing this helps LLMs make clear associations between your content and trusted, verifiable sources.
Topical authority in SEO refers to a website's perceived expertise, depth, and trustworthiness on a specific subject area. When a site consistently publishes high-quality, comprehensive content around a particular topic, search engines (and increasingly, AI systems) recognize it as an authoritative source for that topic. This boosts the site's chances of ranking higher in search results and being referenced by Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT or Gemini. AI systems rely on established sources when summarizing information. If your site thoroughly covers a topic and demonstrates long-term expertise, you’re far more likely to be referenced. Strategies to Strengthen Authority: Create content clusters: Write multiple interlinked articles around a core topic, covering all its subtopics, FAQs, and edge cases. Publish pillar content: Develop in-depth, definitive guides that act as the foundation for related content. Maintain consistency and depth: Regularly update and expand your topic coverage to stay current and comprehensive. Link internally: Use strategic internal linking to show relationships between your content and guide crawlers through your topical map. Earn backlinks: Get citations from other trusted websites in your niche.

To build authority:
Over time, this signals to both search engines and LLMs that your site owns the topic.
E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust) is essential for both human readers and AI systems. LLMs tend to favor sources that show depth, credibility, and transparency.
Boost your E-E-A-T by:
If your content feels credible and real, it’s more likely to be picked up in AI-generated outputs.
AI models often generate responses using real sources. If your content includes unique insights, original data, or practical frameworks, you increase your chance of being cited.

To improve citation chances:
Becoming a cited source means your content doesn’t just live on your site—it travels through AI responses across the web.
LLMs thrive on modular, usable content. Think beyond paragraphs and consider how your content can be repurposed into prompts, templates, or interactive blocks.

Try this:
This turns your content into something AI wants to use—not just index.
Traditional keyword rankings aren’t enough to measure success in this new AI-driven search landscape. As LLMs like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini take a larger role in how users discover and consume information, it’s essential to explore tools and tactics that help you monitor your visibility across these platforms.

Start by using Perplexity.ai and You.com, two AI-powered search engines that often display the sources they pull from in real time. These tools are great for running your core topics, keywords, and questions to see if your content is being referenced or cited. Similarly, you can use ChatGPT with browsing enabled to ask questions relevant to your niche and evaluate whether your blog, brand, or website is showing up in its answers.

To keep track of how often your content is mentioned, even without a backlink, tools like Brand24 and BuzzSumo can help you monitor brand mentions and unlinked citations across the web. Meanwhile, Google Analytics 4 (GA4) can provide deeper insight into referral traffic—pay close attention to users arriving from platforms like Perplexity or other AI tools. This can help you identify patterns and understand how people are finding your content via AI-generated responses.

Step 1 - track traffic coming from LLms

Step 2 - track traffic coming from LLms

Step 3 - track traffic coming from LLms

4) Now, search for the names of the LLMs you want to track—such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Perplexity, and others.

Step 4 - track traffic coming from LLms
To stay ahead in the evolving world of SEO, it's important to regularly check how your key search terms and content perform across various LLMs (Large Language Models) like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity. By testing your content within these AI tools, you can see if it’s being recognized, paraphrased, or directly cited. This process provides valuable insights into which content resonates with AI models, highlights areas that may need optimization, and uncovers opportunities for greater visibility.

For example, if you work in the publishing industry, particularly with a fashion magazine, you could test popular questions like, "What is the best fashion magazine in the UK to get a subscription?" Enter these questions into different LLMs and check if your brand is suggested as an answer. Test this across various phrases that you believe your target audience might use to find you. This way, you can ensure that your magazine appears where it matters and optimize for the right queries.

Incorporating this routine into your SEO strategy helps you refine your content, bridge visibility gaps, and better position your brand in an AI-driven search landscape.

To stay ahead, don’t just publish content—build tools and integrations that LLMs can interact with. Consider:
Creating public APIs that LLMs can query for real-time data
Embedding calculators, templates, or frameworks that users (and AI) can reuse
Building ChatGPT plugins or custom GPTs around your content

For example, if you run a subscription-based nursing magazine, you can create your own AI-powered search tool that only pulls information from your website. This is especially valuable in the healthcare sector, where accuracy and trust are critical. By offering a dedicated tool—like Ask Nursing Times, currently used by Nursing Times—you give subscribers a reliable way to get answers from verified content, while also increasing engagement and highlighting the value of your archive. It's a smart strategy that supports both SEO and subscriber retention.

This makes your site a living resource that’s usable inside AI environments, not just on search engines.
SEO is far from dead. What’s happening now is a deep shift from traditional search toward a hybrid world where content must perform on both search engines and AI platforms. The fundamentals remain—relevance, clarity, authority—but the use cases have multiplied.
Today, visibility means more than showing up on page one. It means being cited, summarized, or embedded into a generative response. SEO experts must now blend classic optimization with AI-aware content creation to thrive. Done right, this isn’t just a new chapter for SEO. It’s a new frontier.

source

How to get cited by AI: SEO insights from 8,000 AI citations – Search Engine Land

How to get cited by AI: SEO insights from 8,000 AI citations  Search Engine Land
source