Introduction: A Familiar Feeling
Back when the Internet was new—when we first learned to type in web addresses and wait patiently for dial-up to connect—it felt like the world was changing fast. And it was. But I could still catch my breath, try things out, and figure out how to share what I was learning as I went along.
Now, with AI, it’s like someone hit fast-forward and then lost the remote.
Every time I open ChatGPT, there’s a new feature. MidJourney gets updated again. Gemini is suddenly better at something it wasn’t last week. NotebookLM is in the background quietly transforming how I think about research. And me? I’m just trying to make a simple, helpful video—by the time I record one, the interface has changed. The tool looks different. Sometimes the results are better, sometimes they’re just different. But either way, that carefully crafted tutorial is already outdated.
Creating this blog—PixelPia’s Perspective—has been a bit of a reset for me. It’s helped me rethink what I really want to create. Instead of trying to chase every update or cover every feature, I want to share what actually works for me. I want to focus on inspiration and practical insights—on how I personally use different AI tools to support my creative process. The things that stick. The tools that help me move forward.
That shift in mindset is what this post is really about.
Too Many Tools, Too Little Time
There was a point—not that long ago—when I had five different AI tools open in separate tabs. One for writing. One for images. One for notes. One for research. And one… just because it was new and I hadn’t tried it yet.
And I still didn’t create anything that day.
That’s when it really hit me: the more tools I tried to keep up with, the less I actually made. I was constantly evaluating instead of experimenting. Drowning in potential instead of building momentum.
And the truth is—most tools in the same category can do very similar things. Whether it’s large language models like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude, or image generators like MidJourney, DALL·E, and Grok—they all have their strengths and quirks, but the differences often matter less than we think.
What does matter is how you connect with the tool. The one that feels intuitive. The one that doesn’t interrupt your flow. The one that makes you want to keep going.
So when I say I’ve chosen to stick with a few tools, it’s not because they’re the “best” in some objective sense. It’s because they’re the ones that make sense to me. And that’s the same advice I’d offer to you: find the tools that feel good in your hands, that match how you think and work. Then give yourself permission to stop looking over your shoulder.
The Turning Point
The moment didn’t come with a dramatic crash or a bold decision. It was quieter than that—just me, sitting in front of my computer, trying to record yet another tutorial. I had everything planned out: a script, screen recordings, timestamps. I hit record, started talking, and then realized… the interface had changed. Again.
A button was missing. A label had been renamed. The layout was just different enough to confuse anyone trying to follow along. I paused the recording, took a deep breath, and stared at the screen in silence.
At first, I was just tired. But beneath that was something more honest: a quiet question rising up—Is this still the kind of work I want to do?
It wasn’t about giving up or avoiding the work. It was about shifting focus. I had spent so long in “teacher mode,” trying to explain every tool, every step, every change. But the truth is, I wasn’t creating much of my own anymore. I was always adjusting, revising, keeping up—never settling in.
And then this blog came along.
Writing here has been different. It’s reminded me of the joy that first pulled me into all of this—the spark that comes from making something, whether it’s a blog post, a video, an image, or even a half-finished idea that’s still waiting in the wings. Creating this space gave me a reason to slow down and ask: What do I actually want to share?
And the answer was clear. I want to share that joy. Not just the how-to, but the why it matters. Not just the tools, but the moments of connection and curiosity they make possible.
So that was my turning point. I decided to stop chasing every update. To stop trying to be a walking manual for tools that reinvent themselves weekly. Instead, I chose a smaller set of tools I trust, and I gave myself permission to use them—messily, creatively, consistently.
That small shift changed everything.
My Core Toolkit (and Why)
Once I let go of the pressure to try everything, I started paying more attention to the tools I kept returning to—the ones that felt intuitive, that worked with me instead of against me. They weren’t always the most powerful, or the most popular. But they were the ones that made me feel like creating, not just testing.
Here’s what that toolkit looks like today:
ChatGPT
This is my thinking partner. It helps me plan blog posts, brainstorm video ideas, reframe tricky paragraphs, and sometimes just talk things through. I don’t expect it to be perfect, and I don’t want it to write for me. I want it to write with me—and that’s exactly what it does.
I’ve been working with ChatGPT long before I started this blog. Over time, it’s helped me develop a tone that feels natural, honest, and grounded in how I already think and speak. In many ways, it’s become a kind of creative mirror—reflecting my thoughts back to me, shaped but not distorted. It’s where I’ve explored new ideas, tested writing styles, and found a rhythm that now carries through much of my work.
MidJourney
When it comes to images, I’ve tested all the usual suspects. But MidJourney is the one I enjoy the most. It has its quirks, but there’s something about the visual feel it creates that resonates with me. It’s where I go when I want a photo-realistic image that feels like it belongs to my blog—not just to the tool that made it.
NotebookLM
This one has quietly become a central part of how I work. I use it for organizing ideas, reflecting on past notes, and finding connections between old thoughts and new projects. But it’s also where I create my experimental podcast, AI Takeover—a playful, reflective audio project built around posts from my other blog, Critically Curious. NotebookLM makes it easier to weave those threads together.
Gemini
I see a lot of potential in Gemini. It’s evolving quickly and brings something unique to the table. But since I’ve used ChatGPT for so long, I’ve developed a rhythm and a voice here that’s hard to replicate. That doesn’t mean I won’t use Gemini—it just means I’m still getting to know it. It lives in that space of curiosity for me, not yet comfort.
—
This isn’t the toolkit. It’s just my toolkit. What works for me right now, in the season I’m in. And that’s the point—find the tools that fit your rhythm, your workflow, your way of thinking.
Because when we stop trying to master every tool, we can finally start mastering our own process.
A Quiet Kind of Commitment
There’s a certain kind of peace that comes with letting go.
Not giving up—but releasing the pressure to do it all, to know it all, to try every tool and follow every trend. I’m not interested in being the first to review the latest thing. I’m more interested in what lasts. In what helps me keep showing up—day after day, post after post, project after project.
Choosing a handful of tools wasn’t just a practical decision. It was creative clarity. It gave me room to grow a little deeper, to build habits, to explore without constantly switching gears. It reminded me why I started this journey in the first place—not to chase technology, but to use it as a partner in making something that matters.
That said—I’m still me.I know myself well enough to say this: I’ll keep exploring. I’ll keep trying new tools when something sparks my curiosity. Maybe my toolkit will shift. Maybe it’ll stay the same. Either way, I don’t see it as pressure anymore—just part of how I learn.
Because sometimes, the best way to keep moving forward is to stand still just long enough to choose your path with intention.
So I’m curious—what tools do you keep coming back to?
Not because they’re perfect, but because they feel like yours.
If you’re figuring that out right now, you’re not alone.
I’d love to hear what’s working for you—feel free to share in the comments or reach out. This blog is as much about conversation as it is about reflection.
Let’s keep learning, creating, and choosing with care.
