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5 AI Tools I Actually Use to Run My Online Business

A beginner’s guide to the AI tools that actually save time — not the ones everyone just talks about.

When I started building AI Entrepreneur Lab, I didn’t set out to use “AI” as a buzzword. I set out to publish books on Amazon KDP, write content consistently, and build a business without hiring a full team. AI tools are just how I actually get that done.

If you’re starting out and overwhelmed by the sheer number of AI tools being pushed at you, here’s the honest version: I use 5 tools regularly. Not 20. Not “the ultimate AI stack.” Five. Here’s what they are, and exactly what I use each one for.

1. An AI Writing Assistant — Chat GPT

Every blog post, product description, and email I write starts with an AI drafting tool. I’m not asking it to write a finished post — I’m using it to get past the blank page, build an outline, and get a rough first draft I can then edit, add my own experience to, and make sound like me.

What I use it for:

  • Outlining blog posts before I write them
  • First drafts of product descriptions
  • Brainstorming titles and angles when I’m stuck

The mistake beginners make: publishing the AI draft as-is. Readers (and Google) can tell. The value is in the editing — adding your own examples, your own numbers, your own voice.

See our full breakdown of writing tools on the AI Tools page.

2. An AI Image Tool — Canva

Publishing on KDP means you need covers, and running a blog means you need graphics. I don’t have design skills, so an AI image tool fills that gap entirely.

What I use it for:

  • Book cover concepts and drafts for KDP listings
  • Featured images for blog posts
  • Simple social graphics

What I learned the hard way: always check the commercial license before using AI-generated images for anything you’re selling. Some tools restrict resale rights even on paid plans — this matters a lot for KDP specifically.

Full comparison of image tools on the AI Tools page.

3. An Automation Tool — Zapier

This is the one beginners skip, and it’s probably saved me the most time. Automation tools connect the apps you already use so you’re not manually doing the same task every week.

What I use it for:

  • Automatically saving new subscriber emails to a list
  • Connecting my contact form to my email tool
  • Basic scheduling and reminders

Rule of thumb I follow: if I find myself doing the exact same task the exact same way for the third time, that’s my signal to automate it.

4. An AI Research/Analytics Habit — for Understanding What’s Working

This isn’t one single tool as much as a habit: using AI to help me interpret data I’d otherwise ignore. Google Search Console tells me what’s getting impressions and clicks, but AI helps me actually make sense of patterns — what topics are gaining traction, what’s stalling, what needs more content.

What I use it for:

  • Summarizing performance trends I’d otherwise skim past
  • Spotting content gaps (topics I haven’t covered yet that are getting search interest)
  • Turning raw numbers into an actual next step

5. A Video/Content Repurposing Tool —Capcut

I write one piece of content and turn it into more than one format — a blog post can become a short video script or social post without starting from scratch. This is less about “creating video content” and more about not wasting the research and writing I already did.

What I use it for:

  • Turning blog post outlines into short-form video scripts
  • Repurposing long content into smaller, shareable pieces

Full breakdown of video tools on the AI Tools page.

The Real Lesson: Tools Aren’t the Strategy

Here’s what I’d tell myself if I were starting today: the tools matter far less than actually using them consistently. I didn’t build anything by finding the “perfect” AI stack — I built it by publishing books, writing posts, and testing what worked, using AI to remove the parts that used to take hours.

If you’re just getting started, don’t try to adopt all five of these at once. Pick the one that solves your biggest current bottleneck — writing, design, or busywork — and start there.

For a full breakdown of tools by category, with pricing and honest picks, check out our AI Tools hub. And if you’re specifically looking to get into Amazon KDP publishing, our KDP Guide walks through the process step by step.

Have questions about any of the tools mentioned here? Get in touch — I read and respond to every message.