AI tools changed fast in 2025. At the start of the year, many of us were still “playing” with ChatGPT and image generators. By the end of the year, entire workflows in design, music, video, coding and even sales are being run through AI.

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In this episode of The AI Download, host Shira Lazar is joined by returning guest Paige Piskin – creator, AI artist and one of the earliest power users on almost every major tool. Paige has gone from using AI for sketches and inspiration to producing full commercial campaigns, album covers, music videos and interactive experiences for clients.

Together, Shira and Paige break down six core categories of tools you need in your stack for 2026. From AI search and no code app builders to image, audio, video and repurposing engines, they map out what is actually useful right now, where each tool shines and how to think about agents and automation without losing the human connection.

Why This Matters

If you work in the creator economy, media, design, marketing or you are just trying to keep up with AI at work, the tool landscape can feel overwhelming. Every week there is a new model, a new interface and a new “must try” app. Most people never get beyond dabbling.

Paige lives in these tools every day. She has experimented with Sora, Suno, Kling, 11 Labs, Nano Banana, Lovable, Google’s Build Studio, NotebookLM and many more long before they hit the mainstream. Her perspective is less about hype and more about:

• Which tools are ready for real client work
• How to combine them into a workflow
• Where you still need taste, story and human judgment

This episode is a practical shortcut if you want to level up your AI stack for 2026 without spending hundreds of hours testing everything yourself.

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🔗 All Tools Mentioned in This Episode

Copilot | https://copilot.microsoft.com
Perplexity | https://perplexity.ai

Lovable | https://lovable.ai
VioDev | https://vio.dev
Google Build | https://ai.google.dev

11Labs | https://elevenlabs.io
Suno | https://suno.com

Sora | https://openai.com/sora
Kling | https://klingai.com
Google Veo | https://deepmind.google/video/veo
HeyGez | https://heygen.com

Nano Banana | https://labs.google/nanobanana
Midjourney | https://midjourney.com

Opus Clip | https://opus.pro
Riverside | https://riverside.fm

HighLevel | https://gohighlevel.com
Snowflake | https://snowflake.com
Coral Protocol | https://coralprotocol.org
n8n | https://n8n.io

Rosebud | https://rosebud.ai
NotebookLM | https://notebooklm.google

Paige Piskin More…https://www.paigepiskin.com/

Paige Piskin (@paigepiskin) Official | TikTok

https://www.youtube.com/@paigepiskinaiar

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigepiskin/

https://www.facebook.com/paigejpiskin/

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Credits

This episode of The AI Download was hosted, created, and executive produced by Shira Lazar. Executive Producer Michele Musso, Creative Director Nadia Giosia with Mint Labs. Music by PALA, Catalina Coastline (licensed under Boss Soundstripe Productions by BMI). Produced by Musso Media. © 2025 Shira Lazar. All rights reserved.