| Need | Tool category / examples | Best use | Main caution |
|---|
| General assistance | ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, Meta AI, Copilot | Brainstorming, explanation, drafting, summarising | Check facts, sources, privacy, and current features |
| Scholarly discovery | Google Scholar, library databases, Elicit, Consensus, Semantic Scholar | Find and compare candidate research | Coverage is incomplete; verify original papers |
| Reference management | Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley | Store sources and insert citations | Metadata can be wrong; check every reference |
| Writing and editing | Word tools, Grammarly, LanguageTool, general assistants | Clarity, grammar, style, structure | Do not change meaning or invent evidence |
| Data analysis | Excel, Sheets, SPSS, R, Python, Power BI, Tableau | Analysis, formulas, charts, dashboards | Validate calculations and assumptions |
| Coding | GitHub Copilot, Cursor, coding-enabled assistants | Code drafts, debugging, tests, documentation | Security, licensing, and correctness review |
| Visual creation | Adobe Firefly, Canva AI, image-generation tools | Concepts, graphics, presentation assets | Rights, accuracy, likeness, and text artefacts |
| Video/audio | Transcription, captioning, voice and video tools | Subtitles, editing, voiceovers, summaries | Consent, misrepresentation, and transcription errors |
| Translation | DeepL, Google Translate, multilingual assistants | Draft translations and localisation | Professional review for high-stakes use |
| Workflow automation | Office integrations and automation platforms | Repetitive processes and connected workflows | Permissions, logging, human approval |