Top 10 AI tools every student should use in 2026
The world of AI, and its relevant tools, has exploded so quickly that any kind of advice that shows up feels too performative, whether it's outdated, sponsored, or from someone with no actual prior experience. This guide is different from the usual. Let's take you all on a tour of the AI toolkit. From research and fact findings to writing and editing, or creating presentations or planning productivity over it all, how to ethically use it.
Research and Fact-finding Tools
In a world full of overflowing information, finding the right amongst them quickly is quite challenging. This is where AI tools can step in to transform chaotic searches into clear, reliable, and presentable information.
Platforms like Perplexity AI and Claude are redefining how we explore information, combining intelligence and deep analysis to enhance and streamline research.
Research || Free+Pro || Cites Sources
If Google search Wikipedia and ChatGPT had a well-read child, it would be preplexity ai. from climate policy and quantum computing to historical events like the French Revolution, ask it anything, and it delivers concise, intelligently structured answers with clickable citations one can actually verify. It stands out majorly due to:
It provides smarter research without actual searching
Pulls insights from credible sources- academic journals, research papers, authoritative websites.
Simplified well-structured responses
Every answer comes with citations, making fact-checking and verification effortless.
It is Ideal for literature reviews, assignments, and thesis work
Perfect for students and researchers, as it can understand the “why” behind the information with transparent, source-driven research.
Use Perplexity’s Focus mode and switch to Academic to filter responses specifically toward scholarly and peer-reviewed sources. It’s useful for research papers and finding credible references, etc., without spending hours manually searching.
Writing+ research || free+ pro || long documents
Claude is a brilliant AI tool for students who need to understand complex material, not just retrieve it. Upload a 60-page academic paper and ask Claude to explain the key arguments in plain English. Claude can break it down into clear, easy-to-understand insights while maintaining the depth and context of the original provided content.
What makes Claude stand out is its ability to think through complex information like a true researcher. It can be used to:
Simplify complex concepts into easy-to-understand insights
Processes lengthy research papers and documents without losing context
To refine essays, strengthen arguments, and improve writing flow
Provide critical thinking through thoughtful, context-aware responses
Transparent and reliable, providing clear acknowledgement of uncertainty when needed
Paste your essay draft, etc., in the chat with Claude and ask questions like“What arguments am I missing?” You’ll be provided with a detailed and constructive feedback that can strengthen your approach.
Ever been in a situation where writing an essay is fine, but making it sound a certain way complicates it all? That's really relatable, right? Here are tools that might help improve the tone and structure without making it sound robotic.
TranScription || Free trial available || editing
Have the recorded lecture ready, drop the audio into TurboScribe for the transcription, then add that transcript into Claude with a prompt like "Turn this into a structured research outline."
You go from messy, spoken ideas to clean, organized content in minutes.
TurboScribe handles accents well and manages long recordings.
Record your professor's lecture, transcribe with TurboScribe, then ask Claude to give out the key points relevant to your upcoming exam topic.
proofreading || Free + premium || tone checking
It is more than just a spell checker, more like a writing companion. An angel telling you if the mail that you sent to your professor was accidentally passive-aggressive?. It suggests clarity issues and even stronger vocabulary, making an impact on the reader's mind. It has a browser extension that works everywhere, including Google Docs and your university's submission portal.
What makes it distinctly useful for students is the plagiarism checker. not because you've plagiarised, but because it catches accidental overlap with sources you'd forgotten you read before submitting the paper
Many universities offer Grammarly Premium free to enrolled students. Check your university's software portal before paying for it yourself.
Writing AI tools aren't to replace the voice but to tune it so it sounds more like you
Presentation & visual tools
Making slides that don't look like some 2009 clip art in 2026 should be more or less banned now, when we know tools like this exist
Presentations || free + pro
I'm sure your ideas are brilliant. The universe deserves to see them. A captivating pitch deck? Easy. A stunning website? Done. You can make anything you can imagine, as you can think it up.
Turn any idea into a polished slide, export to PPT, PDF, and more
Generate post-ready social content - sized, styled, just the right way
Get structured documents from one-pagers to many in a ready-to-share format
Shareable and hostable websites
All of the AI designs offer a create and custom edit feature to give it more of your touch
Use Gamma for short-notice group presentations. Assign each person a section, drop the text into one prompt, and have a coherent and well designed slides in five minutes.
Storytelling || research decks || free+ pro
If you want to feel inspired and motivated, Tome helps you craft compelling, story-driven presentations that make your ideas stand out.
It turns presentations into engaging, story-driven experiences
Helps structure ideas and arguments more clearly
Supports interactive charts and live web data for dynamic presentations
Ideal for business, economics, science, and research-based topics
Creates polished, visually appealing presentations with minimal effort
Start with a prompt like “Tell me a story about climate change economics” Tome often builds a surprisingly strong presentation structure that you can refine instead of starting from scratch.
Planning and productivity tools
With a fast-moving world to keep up with everything is one thing, but having to do so, we do need a planner and a planning tool to keep track of everything, from a schedule of classes or tests or assignments due or cultural practice, to even staying hydrated and having a nutrition check, or even to manage monthly expenses. Such AI tools can be a saviour for it all.
Note taking || project planning || free+ pro
Notion AI is a saviour. Whether it’s managing your weekly class schedule, tracking assignment deadlines, organizing research notes, planning cultural practice sessions, monitoring hydration and nutrition habits, or even keeping an eye on monthly expenses, Notion AI helps simplify the chaos into one clean, organized workspace.
It helps in keeping track of classes, assignments, and deadlines
An AI feature helps in turning messy notes into clean summaries and study material
It can create simple study plans and daily productivity trackers
Staying consistent with habits like hydration, sleep, and workouts is what can be done
Manage monthly expenses and budgets without extra apps
Organise group projects, ideas, and research in one place
Save time by automating repetitive planning and note-taking with its features.
Create a "Semester Hub" in Notion with all your deadlines, then prompt it to generate a weekly study planner. It'll help you stop procrastinating by making the mountain visible and manageable for you.
Academic planning tool || Study management || Free + Pro
Orah AI is like a personal academic assistant built specifically for balancing assignments, exams, projects, and everyday life without feeling overwhelmed. Instead of manually planning every task, it helps organize your academic workload into a realistic and manageable routine.
Upload syllabus in order to track assignments, deadlines, and exams
It creates personalised study schedules based on workload and priorities
It helps us avoid last-minute chaos with smart techniques to manage your time
It can also Organizes lecture notes, study material, and revision plans efficiently
Breaks large academic goals into smaller, achievable daily tasks
Keeps track of classes, study sessions, and productivity routines in one place
Reduces stress by simplifying an action-planner for you.
Next semester, upload all your course syllabus at the beginning and let ORAH AI build a study timeline around your deadlines. It will make your workload feel far less chaotic and help you stay ahead instead of constantly catching up.
Not every AI tool needs to be practical. Here are the ones that make studying less miserable, maybe spark creative ideas mid session, or are just genuinely impressive to play with.
Music generation || creative || free+ pro
A site that can generate original, full-length songs in any genre from a text prompt. Type "lo-fi hip hop, calm, rainy afternoon, piano and soft drums" and you've got a personalised study playlist track in 30 seconds. For creative writing students, music students, or anyone interested in working on a project that needs a specific tone.
Students in media, marketing, or digital content creation can also use Suno to generate original background music for video projects without worrying about copyright issues.
Turn your history revision notes into a song. Ridiculous? Yes. Will you remember the causes of World War I better? Absolutely.
Google free || audio summaries
A tool which can be personalized just by uploading your lecture slides, textbook chapters, or research papers, and it becomes an AI that's specifically grounded in your sources. Ask it to explain concepts, create practice questions, or find connections between different papers you've uploaded.
Its audio overview feature is the best it can create a two-host podcast-style discussion of your uploaded material. Genuinely weird, genuinely useful for revision while commuting or at the gym.
Upload all your readings for one topic and ask NotebookLM, "What are the three main debates in this literature?" It synthesises across sources in a way that would take you days to do manually.
“Don't misuse the advancements to replace but to amplify your very own existence “
SGT University promotes tech-forward education by equipping students with exposure to industry-relevant AI tools across its programs. Here’s how SGT contributes:
Curriculum Integration – AI tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, and Copilot are encouraged for research, writing, and coding tasks.
Faculty-led workshops on using AI ethically and effectively.
Innovation labs and hackathons where students apply AI tools in real projects.
Industry collaborations that expose students to enterprise-grade AI platforms.
Programs at SGT University with AI, ML & CSC
Here are the relevant programs that cover Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Computer Science:
B.Tech – Computer Science & Engineering (AI & ML)
Specialization in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Covers: Python, Deep Learning, NLP, Neural Networks, Data Science
Duration: 4 Years | Undergraduate
B.Tech – Computer Science & Engineering (CSE)
Core computer science with electives in AI/ML
Covers: Algorithms, OS, DBMS, Machine Learning fundamentals
Duration: 4 Years | Undergraduate
M.Tech – Computer Science & Engineering (AI & ML)
Advanced specialization for postgraduates
Covers: Advanced ML, Computer Vision, Research Methodology
Duration: 2 Years | Postgraduate
BCA / MCA with AI Specialization
Application-oriented programs with AI & data analytics tracks
Suitable for students seeking industry-ready AI skills
SGT University bridges traditional education with the evolving AI landscape by integrating top AI tools into its curriculum. Through programs like B.Tech CSE (AI & ML), M.Tech CSE, and BCA/MCA with AI specialization, students gain hands-on, industry-ready skills.
With a focus on innovation and ethical AI use, SGT prepares students not just for today’s demands but for the opportunities of tomorrow.
Q1. What is NotebookLM, and is it better than ChatGPT for studying?
NotebookLM (by Google, free) only answers from the documents you upload, your lecture slides, textbook chapters, and research papers; it won't make things up from general training data. For source-specific revision, it's safer and more focused than ChatGPT. Its standout feature is the audio overview: it generates a two-host podcast discussion of your uploaded material, great for revising while commuting or at the gym.
Q2. Is perplexity AI good for research papers?
Yes, it is one of the best free tools for academic research. Switch to “academic” focus mode, and it filters responses to peer-reviewed and scholarly sources, with citations you can click and verify. Ideal for literature reviews, finding references and understanding topics quickly.
Q3. Can Claude AI read a PDF and summarise it?
Yes. Upload or paste a research paper, even a large document, and Claude will break down the key arguments in plain English without losing the originality.
Q4. Does Grammarly count as plagiarism?
No Grammarly is a proofreading and grammar tool, not a content generator. It improves your existing writing rather than writing for you. Most universities allow it. Bonus: Grammarly Premium includes a plagiarism checker that catches accidental overlaps with sources you may have forgotten.
Q5. How to convert lecture recordings to notes automatically?
Record the lecture, upload the audio to TurboScribe (it handles accents and long recordings well), then paste the transcript into Claude and prompt it to "turn this into a structured study outline." You go from a raw recording to organised, exam-ready notes in a few minutes.
Q6. Best AI tool to make a presentation quickly?
Gamma is the go-to for speed. Type a prompt, get a polished slide deck in seconds, then export to PPT or PDF. For group work, each person can draft their section as text and you can combine it into one coherent presentation in a single prompt.
Q7. Gamma vs Tome, which is better for the university?
Gamma wins for speed and general use, great for any presentation at short notice. Tome is better suited to topics that require a strong narrative arc, such as economics, science, or research-heavy subjects. It supports live data and interactive charts, making your slides feel less like slides and more like a story.
Q8. How do students use Notion AI for studying?
Set up a "Semester Hub" with all your deadlines, then ask Notion AI to generate a weekly study planner from it. Beyond that, it can turn messy notes into clean summaries, track habits like sleep and hydration, manage expenses, and organise group projects all in one place.
Q9. How to make a study playlist with AI?
Use Suno AI to type a text prompt describing the mood and genre (e.g. "lo-fi hip hop, calm, rainy afternoon, soft piano"), and it generates an original full-length track in about 30 seconds. Since the music is AI-generated, you can also use it as copyright-free background audio for video or media projects.
Q10. Are there any ethics issue?
It is really subjective, depending on the institution's guidelines.
Read more : https://sgtuniversity.ac.in/engineering/programmes/
