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I Tested 7 AI Tools for Content Marketing: Here’s What I Found

I have been using AI tools since ChatGPT first launched. And like many content marketers, I wanted to improve my skills for the AI era. This means I frequently test a wide range of AI tools as part of my actual content marketing workflow.

This regular testing has helped me move past the noise and identify which tools genuinely save time and improve content quality for other bloggers and marketers.

My goal was to find what helps drive traffic and engagement, not just add another subscription to the list.

In this guide, I’ll share that clarity with you. Here are my recommendations for the best AI tools for content marketers, based on my daily use and the results I got from them.

I tested AI tools for content marketing

Quick Comparison – My AI Toolkit for Content Marketing

If you are in a hurry, here is a quick list of all the AI tools I use in my daily workflow as a content marketer:

ToolBest ForKey FeatureStarting Price
ChatGPTContent WritingVersatile conversational AIFree – Paid plans start at $20 / mo
GeminiResearch & Technical WritingReal-time web access & sourcingFree – Paid plans start at $19.99
All in One SEOSocial & Email CopyIntegration inside WordPressFree – Paid plans start at $49.60 / yr
SeedProdLanding Page CopyAI writer inside page builderFree- Paid plans start at $39.50 / yr
CanvaImage EditingMagic eraser & background removerFree – Paid plans start at $4.58 / mo
RunwayText-to-VideoHigh-definition, cinematic outputFree – $15 / mo
ElevenLabsText-to-AudioNatural, human-like voiceFree – $5 / mo

TL:DR Summary: Draft content with ChatGPT, verify with Gemini, optimize with AIOSEO, build in SeedProd, design in Canva, create a video with Runway, and add voiceovers with ElevenLabs.

Next, I’ll show how I tested each tool and why you can trust my picks.

How I Tested & Reviewed These AI Content Tools

The AI industry is exploding with innovation, making it harder to separate hype from reality, and choosing the wrong tool can waste time and money.

I aim to cut through the noise with real-world usage to save time and money.

Here’s a breakdown of my testing process:

  • I used them for real-world tasks. I used these tools for actual content marketing at WPBeginner: brainstorming articles with ChatGPT, creating social media posts with AIOSEO, and designing graphics with Canva’s AI. This process shows how they perform in a real business, not just a demo.
  • I analyzed what truly matters. Each tool was judged on the quality of its output, ease of use for non-experts, practical time-saving features, and overall value for money.
  • I tested with a variety of prompts. I didn’t just accept the first result. Instead, I experimented with different tones, styles, and complex commands to check the flexibility and control of the AI’s output.
  • I categorized them for specific needs. A blogger’s needs are different from a landing page designer’s. That’s why I’ve categorized each tool by its best use case, helping you find the right solution for your specific task.

Why You Can Trust WPBeginner

As a content creator at WPBeginner, I use marketing tools daily to create and promote content for our millions of readers.

Our team also uses plugins like All in One SEO and SeedProd across our business, so we have direct, first-hand experience with how their AI features perform.

Furthermore, everyone at WPBeginner follows a strict editorial process to ensure our reviews are always thorough, fair, and trustworthy. My recommendations come from hands-on experience and a commitment to helping you find the right tools to succeed.

1. ChatGPT

Best For: Content writing, brainstorming, illustrations, and organizing marketing workflows.

ChatGPT is one of the most versatile AI tools I’ve used. It works well for quick idea generation, long-form articles, and even creative media like images.

As one of the most advanced AI companies, OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT) is spending huge resources on research and innovation. This means more capable and faster models are released quite frequently.

ChatGPT allows you to switch between search, chat, deep research, and agent modes so you can perform different types of tasks from the same window.

ChatGPT user interface

How I use ChatGPT:

ChatGPT is my primary AI for a variety of tasks. I use it daily for updating existing articles, brainstorming blog post ideas, writing new articles, and more.

I learned that using Projects and ChatGPT’s memory feature allows the AI to learn my preferred tone, structure, and formatting rules. This saves me a lot of time in the long run.

ChatGPT switch between tools

I also use it to create illustrations for articles and general blog images. It sometimes misspells words in images, but I can easily correct those using Photoshop or Canva.

Key Features & Where It Excels:

  • Handles multiple content formats: blog posts, scripts, captions, and social copy.
  • Excellent image generation model included.
  • Powerful memory system to personalize results to your brand voice.
  • Integrates with ChatGPT plugins for WordPress and automation tools like Uncanny Automator and Zapier to create powerful workflows. However, you’ll need an API key for integrations, which has a separate pay-as-you-go pricing not included in the monthly ChatGPT subscription.
Pros of ChatGPT 👍Cons of ChatGPT 👎
Extremely versatile across writing and creative tasksRequires human fact-checking
Remembers preferences with the memory featureOutput quality depends heavily on prompts
Integrates with top automation and marketing toolsThe free plan has limited access to the latest models

Practical Tips for Marketers:

  • Use the project feature to group related tasks and save time switching between contexts.
  • For recurring formats (like newsletters), train the memory feature with examples so that ChatGPT automatically matches your style.
  • Learn to improve your prompts for better outputs. You can see my collection of AI prompts for marketers for practical examples.
Pricing

A free plan is available with limited model access. Paid plan starts at $20/month, GPT-5, memory features, faster responses, and priority access during peak times.

2. Gemini

Best For: In-depth research, fact-checking, and writing technical or data-driven content.

While ChatGPT is my go-to for creative tasks, Gemini is my trusted research assistant.

Its biggest advantage is its direct, real-time integration with the Google search index, which means the information it provides is current and often comes with source links.

Gemini is better at research with sources cited from the web

This makes it incredibly reliable for tasks where accuracy is critical. I’ve found its ability to understand and explain complex, technical subjects is second to none.

It’s also excellent at generating structured data like tables and comparing information from multiple sources.

Plus, Google is continually updating Gemini with its latest AI models and connecting it with its ecosystem of Google Workspace apps like Google Docs, Sheets, and Gmail. These integrations make it a powerful productivity hub.

How I use Gemini:

I turn to Gemini whenever I need to write content that requires up-to-date information or fact-checking.

For instance, when writing a review of a new software release, I’ll ask Gemini to summarize the latest features, find recent user reviews, and compare its pricing to competitors.

Gemini is faster at research and brainstorming

I also use it to simplify technical topics.

When working on an article about website security, I can ask Gemini to explain “what is a DDoS attack” in a simple analogy that a non-technical reader can understand. Its ability to provide sourced information saves me a significant amount of research time.

Related Article: See my pick of the best ChatGPT alternatives.

Key Features & Where It Excels:

  • Connects directly to Google Search for real-time, sourced answers.
  • Excellent at summarizing articles, research papers, and web pages via a link.
  • Generates multiple “drafts” of a response so you can choose the best one.
  • Integrates directly with Google Workspace apps (Docs, Sheets, Gmail) for a seamless workflow (with Gemini for Workspace).
Pros of Gemini 👍Cons of Gemini 👎
Provides current, sourced informationCan be less “creative” in tone than ChatGPT
Excellent for research and fact-checkingImage generation capabilities are less advanced
Great at simplifying complex topicsFewer third-party integrations compared to OpenAI

Practical Tips for Marketers:

  • Use the “Double-check response” feature (the Google icon) to have Gemini highlight statements it’s confident about and find sources for ones it’s less sure of.
  • When researching, ask it to “act as a research assistant” and request information in a specific format, like a table comparing three products on features and price.
  • For complex topics, ask it to “explain this to me like I’m a beginner” to get clear, easy-to-understand copy.
Pricing

The standard Gemini model is free to use. To access the most powerful models (like Gemini 2.5 Pro) and larger context windows, you can subscribe to Google AI Pro, which starts at $19.99/month as part of the Google One AI Pro plan.

3. All in One SEO – AI Content Generator

Best For: Creating SEO-optimized titles, meta descriptions, FAQs, key points, and social media posts directly inside WordPress.

All in One SEO’s AI Content Generator is built right into your WordPress dashboard, making it incredibly easy to create ranking-ready content without switching between tools.

Generating social content using AIOSEO's AI content generator

You can instantly generate:

Because it’s part of the AIOSEO plugin, all the AI-generated content can be inserted into your post or page with a single click. This helps you save time and ensure everything is properly optimized for search engines and engagement.

How I use AIOSEO AI Content Generator:

I use AIOSEO’s AI content generator when I need to speed up the optimization process for new and updated articles.

For example, after writing a post, I’ll use the AI Content Generator to create a compelling meta description, add FAQ blocks for featured snippets, and generate a TL;DR section to improve readability.

AIOSEO meta description

It’s also my go-to for creating platform-specific social media captions. I can generate tailored copy for Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X (Twitter) in seconds, which saves me from rewriting the same message multiple times.

Plus, I love its Marketing Email feature, which allows you to instantly generate an email based on the content of your article.

Note: All in One SEO is the most comprehensive WordPress SEO tool. We use it on all our websites, including WPBeginner.

To learn more, see our full AIOSEO review.

Key Features & Where It Excels:

  • Works inside WordPress and uses your article content for context, which significantly improves the quality of output.
  • Generate SEO titles and meta descriptions that improve click-through rate (CTR).
  • Create FAQ blocks with built-in schema markup for better rankings and AI Overviews.
  • Produce “Key Points” summaries to boost readability and capture featured snippets.
  • Instantly write platform-specific social media posts for multiple networks.
  • Generate and publish an llms.txt file to get discovered and cited by AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini.
Pros of AIOSEO 👍Cons of AIOSEO 👎
All-in-one content optimization directly in WordPressCredits are limited based on the plan
Includes advanced features like FAQ schema and llms.txtRequires the AIOSEO plugin
Saves time by creating multi-platform content instantly

Practical Tips for Marketers:

  • Use FAQ and Key Points in every post to target featured snippets and AI Overviews.
  • Leverage the social media post generator to maintain consistent branding across platforms.
  • Enable the llms.txt file feature to help AI chatbots find and cite your best content.
Pricing

Available for both Lite and Pro users. Lite users get 100 free credits, with additional credits available for purchase. Pro users get generous credits included with their license. All users can buy extra credits at any time.

4. SeedProd AI Writing & Image Generator

Best For: Creating landing page copy, headlines, and unique images directly inside the WordPress page builder.

SeedProd is one of the most popular WordPress website and landing page builders. Alongside its drag-and-drop builder, it comes with built-in AI tools for text and image creation.

It integrates with ChatGPT for copywriting and DALL·E for generating images, so you can create a complete, custom landing page without ever leaving the editor.

How to generate website text using AI

The AI assistant is available inside many SeedProd blocks, letting you generate text or rework existing copy with just a click.

You can also instantly translate your page content into 50+ languages and fine-tune tone and style with over 30 options, from professional to playful.

Plus, you can even use SeedProd to create an entire website from scratch. For details, see our guide on how to create a WordPress website with AI.

How I use SeedProd’s AI features:

I use SeedProd’s AI writing assistant when I’m building landing pages or product pages and need polished copy fast.

Instead of starting from scratch, I can select a block, click “Generate AI Text,” and have a strong starting draft instantly.

Creating an online resume using artificial intelligence (AI)

For visual content, I use the AI image generator to create custom illustrations or hero images that match the page’s theme. If I don’t like the first result, then I can create multiple variations until I find the perfect fit.

Key Features & Where It Excels:

  • AI-powered text generation and editing directly inside the SeedProd builder.
  • 30+ tone of voice options to match your brand style.
  • One-click text transformations: simplify, shorten, lengthen, or translate into 50+ languages.
  • DALL·E-powered AI image creation with variation support for consistent design themes.
  • 300+ templates, full WordPress theme builder, and easy WooCommerce integration.
Pros of SeedProd 👍Cons of SeedProd 👎
Integrated AI copywriting and image generation in one builderAI Assistant is only available on premium plans
30+ tone options and translation into 50+ languagesImage results may require multiple attempts for best output
Seamless drag-and-drop website building with 300+ templatesAI credits are tied to your SeedProd plan

Practical Tips for Marketers:

  • Use tone options to match the style of each landing page — formal for B2B, casual for lifestyle brands.
  • Leverage AI translations to localize pages for international audiences without hiring translators.
  • Create multiple image variations to maintain a consistent visual style across your campaign.
Pricing

SeedProd offers a free plan for its page builder. AI writing and image generation are available on premium plans as a paid add-on. Pricing starts at $39.50/year for the base builder, with AI features included in higher tiers.

5. Canva Magic Studio

Best For: Image editing, quick social media graphics, and AI-powered visual content creation.

Canva is already one of the easiest tools for creating designs, but its Magic Studio AI features take it to another level with AI-powered image editing and media generation.

Using Canva AI to generate and edit images

It’s perfect for marketers who need professional visuals without advanced design skills.

From background removal to text-to-image, text-to-video generation, Canva’s AI tools save time while expanding creative possibilities.

Canva’s Magic Studio is powered by a mix of its own AI technology and models from leading partners like Google. This allows it to offer powerful image and video generation tools right inside the Canva editor as an all-in-one design solution.

How I use Canva Magic Studio:

I use Canva for creating and editing blog images, social media graphics, and quick promotional materials.

Generating social media images using AI in Canva

The Magic Eraser is a huge time-saver when I need to remove unwanted elements from a photo, and the Expand tool is perfect for adjusting aspect ratios.

I often tweak AI-generated visuals with Canva’s design tools for a polished final product. In particular, I use it to edit images generated with ChatGPT or Gemini because those platforms don’t have the same image editing capabilities as Canva.

Editing your AI generated images using Canva editor

Key Features & Where It Excels:

  • Magic Eraser for removing unwanted objects in seconds.
  • Easily expand to resize and reframe images without cropping important content.
  • Text-to-image AI generation for new AI artwork.
  • AI resize tool for instantly adapting designs to multiple social media formats.
  • Background remover and object eraser for clean, professional images.
  • Hundreds of templates and drag-and-drop editing for non-designers.
Pros of Canva 👍Cons of Canva 👎
Fast, beginner-friendly interface with professional resultsAI image generation can struggle with accurate text rendering
Magic tools make editing and resizing effortlessMost AI features are limited in free plans
Huge library of templates and design assets
Low-cost monthly subscription

Practical Tips for Marketers:

  • Use Magic Resize to instantly create platform-specific versions of your designs for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more.
  • Pair text-to-image generation with your brand colors and fonts for on-brand custom visuals.
  • Combine Magic Eraser and background remover to repurpose stock images for unique content.
Pricing

Free plan available with limited AI features. The Pro plan starts at $4.58 /month and includes Magic Studio AI tools, brand kits, premium templates, and unlimited background removal.

6. Runway

Best For: AI-powered video creation, editing, and special effects.

Runway is one of the most innovative AI tools for marketers who need professional-quality video without a production crew.

It offers text-to-video generation, background replacement, and advanced editing features, all inside a simple browser interface.

Runway video generation

I am not a video editor, but as part of a marketing team, I sometimes need quick videos.

Runway is a great option for creating product promos, social media clips, and creative visuals that stand out in your campaigns. You can even start from an image or video clip and transform it entirely with AI.

How I use Runway:

I’ve used Runway to try out quick video clips and fun personal projects.

I thoroughly tested Runway Aleph against Google’s Veo-3 (limited preview available in Gemini). Runway performed quite well and, in some areas, exceeded Veo.

Runway offers easy to use video editing tools built-in

I also liked Runway’s ease-of-use, storyboard, and remix features. As someone with limited video editing experience, I found Runway to be much easier to use than Veo.

Key Features & Where It Excels:

  • Text-to-video generation from prompts or images.
  • Green screen and background removal without a studio setup.
  • Wide range of visual styles and camera movement controls.
  • Fast rendering compared to traditional video software.
Pros 👍Cons 👎
Generates high-quality videos in minutesNegative prompts are not supported
Easy to use, even for beginnersBest results often require multiple tries
No expensive video equipment needed

Practical Tips for Marketers:

  • Use reference images to guide the AI’s style and accuracy.
  • Pair Runway videos with Canva or AIOSEO for complete campaign materials.
  • Batch create multiple clips in one session to save time.
Pricing

Free plan available with limited exports and watermarks. Paid plans start at $12/month, offering higher-quality output, faster rendering, and commercial usage rights.

7. ElevenLabs

Best For: Creating natural, human-like voiceovers for videos, podcasts, and marketing content.

I discovered ElevenLabs when our WPBeginner YouTube team was trying it out for their videos and shorts. It is one of the most advanced AI voice generation platforms I’ve tested.

Its voices sound remarkably realistic, with natural pacing, emotional nuance, and subtle inflections that make them almost indistinguishable from real human narrators.

ElevenLabs text to speech

With support for over 70 languages (in the upcoming Eleven V3 model) and a library of 120+ pre-built voices, it’s a flexible tool for any marketer looking to add professional-quality audio to their content.

You can also fine-tune voices with precision controls to match your brand tone or creative style.

How I use ElevenLabs:

I first used ElevenLabs for a quick AI video experiment. It was a fun non-work project, but I was hooked.

I am not a podcaster or video editor, and don’t have any professional audio equipment. ElevenLabs came as a blessing to easily add quick narrations to short videos.

ElevenLabs voice-over studio

For example, I can paste a pre-written script for a video, choose a voice that fits the tone, then adjust stability and style sliders for a polished delivery. I then use Audacity to edit audio for my videos to add pauses and music.

I’ve also used its multi-language support to quickly generate audio for a personal project. The new Eleven V3 model surprised me. It was able to distinguish Urdu from Hindi (two almost identical South Asian languages), and the pronunciation was surprisingly good.

Key Features & Where It Excels:

  • Ultra-realistic voice generation with natural pacing and emotion.
  • Large voice library (120+ voices) plus the ability to fine-tune delivery.
  • The Eleven V3 model supports 70+ languages, making it great for multi-lingual audiences.
  • Fast rendering, even for longer scripts.
  • Ability to clone voices (paid feature) for brand consistency.
Pros 👍Cons 👎
Highly realistic and expressive voicesThe free plan has strict character limits
Fast generation timeDoes not edit or mix audio, so a separate tool is required
Supports multiple languages for localization

Practical Tips for Marketers:

  • Match your voice choice to your target audience — formal tones for B2B, friendly tones for casual content.
  • Use precision controls to tweak pacing and emotion for maximum authenticity.
  • For social media videos, keep scripts short to stay within free-tier character limits.
  • Combine with editing tools like Descript or Audacity to add music, sound effects, or clean up audio.
Pricing

Free plan includes 10,000 characters/month. Paid plans start at $5/month with higher character limits, faster generation, and access to voice cloning. For daily content creation, the $22/month plan is the most practical choice.

How to Choose the Best AI Tool for Your Marketing Needs

AI moves fast. New features arrive every month, and “best” depends on your workflow, budget, and goals.

Use these quick checks to pick tools that fit how you work today while staying flexible for tomorrow.

Smart Selection Tips
  • Start with a free plan or trial. Test on one real task before you commit.
  • Audit what you already have. Many tools you use (SEO, design, CMS) now include AI features. For instance, I use WPCode in WordPress, which has a built-in AI code snippet generator.
  • Match the tool to the task. That means you should pick writing tools for long-form, image models for visuals, and voice tools for narration.
  • Check ease of use. A clear UI saves more time than a complex feature set. For instance, I prefer to use Runway, which is easier than the more powerful Veo available in Gemini.
  • Look for solid integrations. Useful integrations include WordPress, email marketing platforms, and automated workflows with tools like Uncanny Automator or Zapier.
  • Evaluate pricing at scale. Credits can add up if you publish often. If you are using APIs for integrations, make sure to calculate the costs and set a cut-off budget.
  • Review data and privacy settings. Know how prompts and outputs are stored and used. You don’t want your trade secrets to be used by AI models for training.
  • Confirm export options. Make sure you can move drafts, images, and audio into your stack.

Honorable Mentions: Other AI Tools I Use

I have shared the tools that I use daily and are part of my workflows as a content marketer. Here are some more tools that I use quite frequently.

ToolSuitable for
SEOBoostKeyword clustering, content briefs, and search intent planning for data-backed outlines.
ManusA multi-purpose AI agent suitable for deep research.
MidJourneyHigh-quality AI imagery for social posts, blog headers, and campaign visuals.
Copy.aiFast social captions, ad angles, and email subject lines with ready-made templates.
JasperTeam workflows, brand voice training, and multi-channel content production.

Frequently Asked Questions About AI Tools for Content Marketing

The following are some of the most common questions that I hear from WPBeginner users on Reddit and LinkedIn.

Which AI tool is best for beginners?

If you’re starting out, I recommend ChatGPT. It’s versatile, easy to learn, and has a free plan so you can practice without spending money.

Do I need to pay for AI tools to get good results?

Not always. Many AI tools, like ChatGPT and Canva, have free tiers that work well for smaller projects. Paid plans usually offer faster responses, higher quality outputs, and more advanced features.

Can AI tools replace human writers and designers?

AI tools are great for speeding up tasks and sparking ideas, but they can’t fully replace human creativity and judgment. I still review and edit everything to make sure it fits my style and is factually correct.

How do I know if an AI tool is right for me?

Check if the tool solves a problem you face often, offers a free trial, and integrates with your existing workflow. If it saves you time or improves quality without adding complexity, then it’s worth keeping.

Will AI tools keep getting better?

Yes. The AI industry is evolving fast. Expect new features, better accuracy, and more integrations over the next few years. That’s why I suggest testing tools regularly to see if better options appear.

Conclusion

These AI tools help me plan, write, design, and publish faster while keeping quality high. You can start with the free plans, test on one real task, and keep the tools that save you time without adding extra steps.

Just make sure to keep human editing and fact-checking in the loop so your content stays accurate and on brand.

You may also like to see these articles related to AI:

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The post I Tested 7 AI Tools for Content Marketing: Here’s What I Found first appeared on WPBeginner.

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Adobe’s AI Acrobat file hub is designed for more than PDFs

Acrobat, now for more than just PDFs.

Adobe is introducing a new Acrobat platform that combines the PDF app with its Adobe Express content creation service and AI assistants that can automate specific productivity tasks. Acrobat Studio allows users to upload up to 100 documents and consolidate the information together into a single workspace.

The idea is to evolve Acrobat beyond being a tool just for reading and editing PDFs, into a platform that supports a wider range of file types and productivity tools, including web pages and Microsoft 365 files. The platform enables users to work on multiple documents simultaneously without leaving Acrobat, using collaborative work environments called “PDF Spaces” that pull file and website information into “conversational knowledge hubs.”

These PDF spaces allow users to view and sign agreements for a project, consolidate research and notes, and use built-in Express tools to turn data into infographics or visual assets that can be shared with colleagues and clients.

Acrobat Studio also includes customizable AI agents in these PDF Spaces that build on previous AI features released for Adobe’s standard Acrobat software. The AI assistants can be used by individuals and teams to offer insights, recommendations, and notes, and can generate ideas and citations from the collated data.

A GIF demonstrationg Adobe’s Acrobat Studio app.

Acrobat Studio is available globally in English starting today with unlimited access to PDF Spaces, AI Assistants, and Adobe Express Premium, and is offered as a separate subscription product that can replace Adobe’s Acrobat Standard and Acrobat Pro plans. Early access pricing begins at $24.99 per month for individuals and $29.99 per month for teams for an annual contract. It’s unclear what this pricing will increase to when the early-access offer expires on October 31st.

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Layoffs hit CNET as its parent company goes on a buying spree

CNET logo on a phone screen.

Ziff Davis, the media conglomerate that owns outlets like CNET, ZDNet, PCMag, and Mashable is laying off 15 percent of its unionized workforce, for a total of 23 people.

The majority of layoffs are coming from CNET, where 19 people will lose their jobs — even as Ziff Davis goes on a shopping spree. The layoffs will hit CNET coverage areas like the finance, broadband, and sleep beats, as well as the outlet’s copy desk. A handful of staffers across Lifehacker, Mashable, and ZDNet will also be laid off.

“It’s very clear to us that these cuts aren’t about journalism,” Anna Iovine, unit chair of the Ziff Davis Creators Guild, says. “They’re based on money and greed.” Iovine noted particular concerns about cutting copy editors and fact checkers.

“Eliminating any coverage is really devastating. These journalists, some of them have decades of experience, and we’re losing [that],” Iovine says.

Ziff Davis has acquired five other companies this year alone, most notably daily news outlet TheSkimm and health outlet Well+Good. CNET was acquired by Ziff Davis in 2024 for $100 million. Ziff Davis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CNET has had a tumultuous last few years under its previous owner, Red Ventures. In 2023, the outlet was engulfed in controversy when readers discovered that it had been quietly publishing stories written by AI that were full of errors. In the ensuing weeks and months, CNET staff were laid off, editor-in-chief Connie Guglielmo stepped down to take a job overseeing AI content, and staff at the outlet unionized. After Red Ventures sold CNET, the union was rolled into the Ziff Davis Creators Guild, which is represented by the NewsGuild of New York.

“At a time when CNET is still building back its reputation after a damaging AI scandal under Red Ventures, Ziff’s decision to further undermine CNET’s human authority is disturbing,” a statement from the bargaining unit reads.

“Our members are so much more than dollars and cents, even as the capricious management at Ziff Davis tries to treat us as such,” the statement continues. “We won a strong collective bargaining agreement just over a year ago, and we will fight to enforce it so we can preserve our ability to continue producing high-quality work for our readers.”

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TikTok videos are about to get crowdsourced fact checks on them

TikTok will start giving contributors the option to write Footnotes.

TikTok is officially rolling out Footnotes, a community fact-checking program that’s supposed to add helpful context to videos. With this update, US-based users will start seeing Footnotes on videos in the coming weeks, and will also get the option to rate them.

After allowing people to join the Footnotes pilot in April, TikTok says almost 80,000 users in the US have qualified to become contributors, allowing them to write and rate notes on videos. When contributors agree that a footnote is helpful, it will appear on the video for the broader TikTok community in the US. TikTok says the Footnotes ranking system will get “smarter” over time as contributors write and rate notes on a range of different topics. It will also give users the ability to report Footnotes that may violate its community guidelines.

The feature uses a “bridging-based system” that aims to find a “consensus between people with different opinions.” It’s similar to how community notes work on X, which the platform says incorporates “diverse perspectives.” Meta has also launched community notes across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, while YouTube is piloting a crowdsourced fact-checking feature, too.

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Adobe releases Windows on Arm versions of Premiere Pro and After Effects

Adobe is finally releasing Windows on Arm versions of Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and Media Encoder this week. All four apps are available as public beta versions, but they do lack some features or have some known issues compared to the versions available for Intel-powered systems.

The native ARM64 version of Premiere Pro won’t currently include support for third-party extensions, raw video files like ProRes, or the hardware-accelerated playback and export of H.264 and HEVC in MP4. Those are some big missing features that Adobe is looking to make available in a future release, but the company won’t deliver the Loudness Radar effect, export to Wraptor DCP, import & export of GoPro CineForm content, or the export to the P2 Movie format in beta or final versions of Premiere Pro for Windows on Arm.

There are some known issues with Adobe After Effects for Windows on Arm, too. It also lacks ProRes support, alongside the inability to import or export ARRIRAW, SWF, GoPro CinePro, JPEG20000 in MXF, and WMV. Currently, you can’t import MotionJPEG and MKV in the beta version of After Effects, and there’s also no hardware-accelerated playback and export of H.264 and HEVC in MP4. Adobe notes that third-party plug-ins for After Effects will have to be updated for this Windows on Arm version, so there’s no support for these just yet.

There are similar features missing from the native Windows on Arm version of Audition and Media Encoder, which are both also available in beta this week.

Adobe first released an Arm beta version of Photoshop for Windows in late 2020, but the company has taken far longer to get Premiere Pro and After Effects recompiled natively for ARM64. Owners of Qualcomm-powered Copilot Plus PCs have had to use the emulated version of Premiere Pro over the past year, which didn’t have enough performance for more demanding video editing tasks.

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The frenzied, gamified chase for Labubus

On Thursday night, I toggled endlessly between a TikTok Live stream and a shopping app in anticipation of 9:30PM. For 30 minutes, I hunted for an available listing; many expletives were uttered. I exhibited bot behavior and got iced out of the app multiple times. I tapped so many times my thumbs got sore. This is Labubu drop night.

Something that's lost in the Labubu mania is that actually buying one from the source is, in one word, maddening. There are, of course, countless fake options ("Lafufus") that some collectors have come to embrace. But if you want a guaranteed real one, you have to go to the source. Pop Mart, the Chinese toy compa …

Read the full story at The Verge.

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TikTok is putting the spotlight on songwriters

TikTok will now let songwriters highlight tracks they’ve written or co-written directly on their profiles. The list of songs will live within the “Music” tab on their profile, similar to the one TikTok already offers for artists on the platform. Users who register as songwriters will also get a “Songwriter” label beneath their account name.

These new features build upon some of TikTok’s existing tools for songwriters, including the “New” tag that appears on newly released music and the ability for users to save a song on a music streaming service. TikTok also rolled out a “BehindTheSong” hub in 2023, where songwriters, artists, and producers can share more about the making of their music, in addition to the more recently launched “Off the Record” series with artists like Shakira, Charli XCX, and Meghan Trainor.

Music is a huge part of TikTok, with the platform helping boost the popularity of songs and even drive TikTokers to stardom. It has also worked with artists like Taylor Swift to build hubs to promote their music, and added the ability for users to save songs to their SoundCloud accounts in May. In 2023, it launched a standalone music streaming app, but shut it down in 2024

For now, TikTok is launching its new songwriter features in a closed beta with a “limited number” of publisher partners. Songwriters and publishers can sign up for a waitlist to gain access to these features in the future.

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TikTok’s ‘ban’ problem could end soon with a new app and a sale

Even with the TikTok divest-or-ban law officially in effect since January, the app has only shut down service in the US for one day. Now, The Information reports that an agreement for a sale satisfying the law’s requirements is close and would come with a new, separate version of the app.

Any deal, however, would need approval from the Chinese government, which is also still wrangling with the Trump administration over tariffs.

The outlet reports that the Trump administration says it’s close to working out a sale to a group of “non-Chinese” investors, including Oracle, with current majority owner ByteDance maintaining a minority stake that would satisfy the terms of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

Earlier today, the Wall Street Journal reported that the General Services Administration says Oracle has reached a new agreement with the federal government that “is the first of its kind that provides the entire government with a discount on cloud infrastructure,” with a 75 percent discount on licensed software.

TikTok’s staff is reportedly working on a new version of the app — dubbed M2, to the current app’s internal M designation — for release in app stores on September 5th. Trump issued a third legally questionable extension of the deadline to ban TikTok from US app stores last month, which is set to expire in mid-September. According to The Information’s unnamed source, under the current timeline, the original TikTok app would leave app stores as the new one launches and then stop working entirely in March 2026.

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How to watch Summer Games Done Quick 2025

Grab your grill, your hot dogs, and your sparklers because it's time to celebrate… Summer Games Done Quick 2025. The annual speedrunning charity marathon benefitting Doctors without Borders is back starting July 6th and finishes July 12th. Here's how and most importantly what to watch as you enjoy the reason for the speedrunning season.

Summer Games Done Quick 2025 starts on Sunday July 6th at 1:30 PM ET on Twitch. Games Done Quick's YouTube channel will have VODs up typically within a few short hours after the run completes so don't worry if you miss anything live. There's interesting runs every day during primetime so always check the sc …

Read the full story at The Verge.

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The Verge’s summer ‘in’ and ‘out’ list

Here at this website, my colleagues and I follow our beats closely, from wearable tech and laptops to influencer culture and federal policy. Last year, I asked a bunch of staff at The Verge to pretend to be trend forecasters for a lighthearted collection of what's hot and what's not. Some of the predictions really held up: many would say the US Supreme Court continues to be out, congestion pricing in New York is decidedly in despite attempts to kill it, and cats are, as ever, a bit of both.

Predicting future trends - and having a pulse on what's happening now - is part art, part science, and, if we're being honest, part wish fulfillment. He …

Read the full story at The Verge.

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Spotify will let users personalize the genre of Discover Weekly playlists

Spotify is adding new personalization features to Discover Weekly, the popular and influential playlist streamed by millions of users. The regularly updated playlist will now have buttons for genres like pop, R&B, and funk at the top, allowing users to tell Spotify what they want more of.

The Discover Weekly playlist is one of the more noteworthy things Spotify has introduced: the company says songs on the playlist have been streamed more than 100 billion times. The weekly mixtape — generated via Spotify algorithms — promised to introduce users to new music that they might enjoy, pulling from listener data. But more recently, there have been complaints that Discover Weekly playlists, meant for finding new music, were spitting out the same songs, and that the platform’s systems weren’t accurately classifying genres. (Spotify told Business Insider in May that it had updated genre accuracy and the Discover Weekly recommendation algorithm.) In addition to the genre options, the Discover Weekly playlist is getting a refreshed look with different cover art.

Spotify reshaped how people listen to music, prioritizing the playlist over the album or even the artist themselves: playlists became a battleground for labels and artists who wanted exposure. In the last few years, the music platform has taken personalization even further, tailoring selections to the individual user. The company has introduced features like an AI-powered “DJ,” an AI text-to-playlist builder tool, and even a fake AI podcast with fake AI hosts that discuss users’ listening habits. The ability to more closely guide the Discover Weekly offerings signals that hyper-personalization remains a priority — and perhaps that Spotify is aware of some of the user dissatisfaction.

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