Artificial intelligence is making headlines every day, but how can we, as cultural workers, use AI ethically and effectively in our jobs? While large LLMs like OpenAI offer workers AI assistance, they come with a significant impact on the environment, hallucinations, bias, and ethical concerns regarding copyright. Smaller LLM tools solve some of these issues. The following review analyzes NotebookLM, a Google experiment, that i particularly useful tool for researchers, students, and other knowledge workers engaged in complex information.
Libby vs. Hoopla: Library Apps Revisited
For more than four years, "Libby vs. Hoopla: Reader App Comparison" has been one of the most popular reviews on our platform. As both Libby and Hoopla continue to update and expand their offerings, we wanted to revisit this topic and see how these two apps stack up in 2025.
Discord Review
Discord is a popular free-to-use browser app and software that gives users the ability to write, make voice or video conversations, and share their screen. The app provides users and their teams with the necessary real-time communication if they want to stay in sync when competing in esports, watching a movie, or video conferencing. This review dives into the pros and cons, and explains some of the basic and premium features of Discord.
Mindnode Review: Mind-Mapping App
BeReal Review: 'Authentic' Social Media?
In a time when authenticity is valued more than ever, yet social media is at its most popular, this new social media app is striving to integrate authenticity with social media. Introducing BeReal, a free social media app that was released in 2019 and gained over a 2000% increase in downloads and users in this past year.
Spatial.io and It’s Capabilities: Featuring Artist Randall Coleman
Canva Pro Review: Beginner-Friendly Design
Building Your Tech Stack: Otter.ai Review
RakugakiAR: Bring Your Doodles to Life!
What if your doodles could come to life? What if not only you you could interact with them, but they could interact with each other? While this may sound like the plot of a new Pixar movie, it can be achieved by using the RakugakiAR (らくがきAR) app on your phone. This interactive AR app trended #6 on Twitter, achieved #1 Top Overall Paid Apps in App Store (iPhone) in 8 countries/regions within the first week of release, and received the 2020 Digital Ethon Award in Japan. If you have the dollar to spare, I definitely recommend giving Rakugaki AR a try!