Write with AI tools
A look at the AI writing assistant options and what they're good for. Quillbot handles paraphrasing and grammar, Lex is a word processor for writers, and Ortto tests email subject lines. Ethan Mollick adds a useful counterpoint on whether AI makes us dumber. 8 picks from the Bez Tytułu newsletter, in reading order.
The picks
Quillbot: AI Writing and Paraphrasing Tools
Tool · quillbot.com · Issue #58
Quillbot is a suite of AI writing tools from Learneo, Inc., including a paraphraser for rewording text, a grammar checker, summarizer, translator and citation generator. It also covers a plagiarism checker, AI image and presentation creators, and PDF tools. Sign-up is free, and a Premium upgrade is offered.
Lex: AI Word Processor for Writers
Tool · lex.page · Issue #167
Lex is a web-based word processor with AI tools for writers and creators. It offers feedback on drafts, idea brainstorming, rewrites and title suggestions, plus real-time shared editing through a link, comments, alternative wordings and read-only publishing links. The page says Lex is no longer accepting new customers, though existing accounts keep working.
Felo: AI Search and Creation Platform
Tool · felo.ai · Issue #192
Felo is a multilingual AI platform for searching, researching and creating content. It can generate AI slides, mind maps, documents, images and webpages, and offers an AI agent, an API and an LLM playground. The site calls itself a free AI platform for research and creation, and it also shows an upgrade option for paid tiers.
Does AI really make us dumber?
Read · oneusefulthing.org · 6 min · Issue #212
Ethan Mollick argues that AI does not physically harm the brain, but using it without thinking can weaken thinking. He advises drafting and generating ideas first, then using AI for feedback. He cites an MIT Media Lab study in which students who used ChatGPT for essays remembered less, and a Turkish high school study where plain ChatGPT use led to 17% worse exam scores, a drop a tutor-style prompt removed.
STORM: Stanford's AI Article Writer
Tool · storm.genie.stanford.edu · Issue #187
STORM is a Stanford AI experiment that builds structured, Wikipedia-style articles from scratch by generating topic outlines first. It is still in development.
Ortto Free AI Subject Line Tester
Tool · ortto.com · Issue #147
Ortto's AI Labs offers a free subject line tester. You enter a subject line, your name and email, and it predicts the open rate for your line and for AI-generated alternatives. The example shown scores the entered line at 0% and the suggestions at 22% to 32%. Ortto is a customer data, messaging and analytics platform.
ManyExcel: AI Formula and Script Generator
Tool · manyexcel.com · Issue #198
ManyExcel is an AI tool that turns plain-text requests into Excel and Google Sheets formulas, regex patterns, and VBA or Apps Script code. The formula generator also explains how complex formulas work. The free plan allows five formula, regex, and script generations, with unlimited explanations. A Pro plan removes the generation limits and adds priority support.
HyperWrite: AI Writing Assistant
Tool · hyperwriteai.com · Issue #10
HyperWrite, built by OthersideAI, is an AI writing assistant with autocomplete, drafting, email replies, research with citations, and a Chrome extension. It offers hundreds of tools, including a rewriter and summarizer, and targets writers, students, and professionals. Four free tools are listed, while Premium costs $19.99 per month ($16 billed annually) and Ultra costs $44.99 per month ($29 billed annually).