How to Evaluate Any New AI Tool: 5 Questions to Ask
Every few weeks, a new AI tool launches with bold claims. It’s easy to suffer from tool overload. Here’s how to evaluate any new AI tool and decide if it’s worth trying.
The 5 Questions to Ask About Any New AI Tool
1. What specific problem does it solve that I currently have?
Be specific. ‘It helps with productivity’ is not an answer. ‘It saves me 2 hours/week on [specific task]’ is. If you cannot identify a specific, recurring task it would improve, don’t subscribe.
2. Does it do this better than tools I already have?
If you already use Claude and a new AI writing tool launches, the burden of proof is high. Claude costs $20/month and is excellent. What would justify adding another $30-50/month writing tool?
3. How does it handle my data?
Enterprise tools, healthcare adjacent tools, and legal tools should have clear data policies. Who trains on your inputs? Where is data stored? Can you opt out of training? Free tools often monetize your data.
4. Is there a free trial or freemium tier to actually test it?
Marketing copy and demo videos are optimized to look good. Real usage is different. Always test a tool on actual tasks from your workflow before paying. If there’s no free tier, be skeptical.
5. What is the realistic ROI?
If a tool costs $30/month, it needs to save you at least 30 minutes of work per month (at $60/hour billing equivalent) to be worth it at break-even. For it to be genuinely valuable, the savings should be 3-5x the cost minimum.
Warning Signs of Overhyped AI Tools
- No pricing page (hides high cost until you are invested)
- Claims of replacing entire roles or workflows
- No free trial or very short trial with credit card required
- Testimonials without specific, measurable outcomes
- Solves a problem you do not actually have frequently
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