{
 "schema": "aiblocks-page/1",
 "id": "ai-tool-picker",
 "type": "skill",
 "name": "AI tool picker",
 "summary": "Describe the job you want done. Get the kind of AI tool that fits, tools to try first and a backup.",
 "headline": "AI tool picker",
 "subhead": "Tell it the job, what you will give the AI, and any limits on cost or privacy. It tells you which kind of AI tool fits, such as a chat assistant, a search tool, an image maker or a transcriber. You get one or two tools to try first, what to check on their site, and a backup.",
 "job": {
  "id": "set-up-ai",
  "name": "Set up AI to work for you"
 },
 "level": "beginner",
 "thinking": "medium",
 "tested": true,
 "updated": "2026-10-27",
 "first_published": "2026-10-27",
 "inputs": [
  {
   "type": "question",
   "required": true,
   "label": "Question",
   "what": "the problem, decision or piece of work you want help with, and what a good outcome looks like"
  }
 ],
 "outputs": [
  {
   "type": "plan",
   "required": true,
   "label": "Plan",
   "what": "a dated plan: what to do, in what order, with a decision rule for each step"
  },
  {
   "type": "question",
   "required": false,
   "label": "Question",
   "what": "the problem, decision or piece of work you want help with, and what a good outcome looks like"
  }
 ],
 "you_give": [
  "The job you want done, in a sentence or two",
  "What you will give the AI, such as text, a file, images, audio or a link",
  "Who will see the result, and whether the content is private",
  "Any limit on cost or the apps you already use (optional)"
 ],
 "you_get": [
  "The kind of tool that fits the job, and why",
  "One or two tools to try first, and a backup",
  "What to check on each tool's own site before you commit",
  "A first small task to try, so you learn quickly if it fits"
 ],
 "use_when": [
  "You ask \"which AI tool should I use?\" for a job and want the best AI tool for that one task.",
  "You tried one tool, it didn't fit, and you want to know what to try instead.",
  "Your team asks which AI tools to use and you want a short, reasoned answer."
 ],
 "skip_when": [
  "You want to know if AI can solve a problem at all: use the AI suitability reviewer.",
  "You want a rule for how your team may use AI: use the HR AI use policy writer.",
  "You want a tool for a daily hassle you can't name yet: use the Daily AI tool finder."
 ],
 "output_sample": {
  "input": [
   "The job you want done",
   "What you will give the AI, and who will see the result",
   "Any limit on cost, privacy or the apps you use (optional)"
  ],
  "output": [
   {
    "name": "The job",
    "contains": "What goes in and what you want out, in one line."
   },
   {
    "name": "Kind of tool",
    "contains": "The type of AI tool that fits, and why."
   },
   {
    "name": "Try first",
    "contains": "One or two tools, each with a reason and what to check on its own site."
   },
   {
    "name": "Backup",
    "contains": "A second option and when to switch to it."
   },
   {
    "name": "First test",
    "contains": "One small task that shows fast if the tool fits."
   },
   {
    "name": "Not a fit because",
    "contains": "Tools or kinds ruled out for your job, with the reason."
   },
   {
    "name": "Missing",
    "contains": "Anything you did not tell it that changes the pick."
   },
   {
    "name": "Checks missed",
    "contains": "One line for each of its own checks that still fails, or none."
   }
  ]
 },
 "output_shape": "THE JOB\n<what goes in> -> <what you want out>\n\nKIND OF TOOL\n<kind, and why it fits>\n\nTRY FIRST\n1. <tool> | Why: <reason> | Check on its site: <price, limits, data use>\n2. <tool> | Why: <reason>\n\nBACKUP\n<tool and when to switch>\n\nFIRST TEST\n<one small task, and what a good result looks like>\n\nNOT A FIT BECAUSE\n<tools or kinds you ruled out, and why>\n\nMISSING\n<what you did not tell it>\n\nCHECKS MISSED\n<one line per check still missed, or none>",
 "how_to_use": [
  "Start a chat with the skill. Open it if you added it to your AI, or copy it and paste it in.",
  "Describe the job and what you will give the AI. Say if the content is private.",
  "Read the kind of tool it picks and try the first tool on a small task.",
  "Check price, limits and privacy terms on the tool's own site, since they change.",
  "If the first tool doesn't fit, try the backup, and tell the skill what went wrong."
 ],
 "checks": [
  "The job is stated as an input and an output.",
  "The kind of tool fits that job, not just the best-known tool.",
  "No price, plan limit or feature is stated as fact.",
  "Each pick says what to check on the tool's own site.",
  "The first test is small enough to run in one sitting."
 ],
 "next": [
  {
   "name": "Routine task automation planner",
   "url": "https://useaiblocks.com/skills/repeat-chore-automation-planner",
   "why": "Set up AI to work for you"
  },
  {
   "name": "AI task opportunity reviewer",
   "url": "https://useaiblocks.com/skills/role-task-breakdown-for-ai-help",
   "why": "Set up AI to work for you"
  },
  {
   "name": "AI suitability reviewer",
   "url": "https://useaiblocks.com/skills/ai-fit-problem-checker",
   "why": "Test the idea with real people"
  }
 ],
 "source": null,
 "credits": [],
 "files": [],
 "links": {
  "page": "https://useaiblocks.com/skills/ai-tool-picker",
  "markdown": "https://useaiblocks.com/skills/ai-tool-picker.md",
  "json": "https://useaiblocks.com/skills/ai-tool-picker.json",
  "instructions": "https://useaiblocks.com/skills/ai-tool-picker/SKILL.md",
  "api_item": "https://useaiblocks.com/api/v1/items/ai-tool-picker",
  "api_document": "https://useaiblocks.com/api/v1/documents/skill/ai-tool-picker",
  "mcp": "https://useaiblocks.com/mcp"
 }
}