How to evaluate an AI tool in 30 seconds
Oct 28, 2026 · 4 min read
Most AI tools look the same on a landing page. The fastest way to tell them apart is to watch the product do one real task, start to finish.
Start with the demo: does it show a real input and a real output, or only a polished animation? Real outputs, including imperfect ones, are a good sign.
Next, check the boring details. Is pricing visible? Is there a free tier or a trial? Who built it, and when was it last updated? A tool that hides these is usually not ready for serious use.
Finally, try one task you already know the answer to. Comparing the output with something you can verify tells you more than any feature list.