The landscape of AI tools has exploded in the past few years, and as both a technical artist and someone who's always looking to optimize everyday tasks, I've been testing dozens of these tools to find the ones that actually deliver on their promises. In this post, I'll share my favorite AI tools that have genuinely transformed my workflows both as a creator and in day-to-day life.
For Technical Artists
1. MeshMind Pro
This has become my go-to tool for generating and manipulating 3D models. It understands artistic intent better than previous generations of 3D AI tools. I can describe complex shapes with artistic terminology, and it will generate models that not only look correct but maintain proper topology for animation.
I recently used it to generate a series of futuristic furniture pieces for a game environment, and the results required minimal cleanup.
Pro tip: MeshMind works best when you provide reference images alongside text descriptions. The hybrid input significantly improves output quality.
2. TextureForge AI
Texturing has always been time-consuming, but TextureForge AI has changed that completely. It can generate PBR texture sets from simple prompts, understand material properties, and even extrapolate from partial information.
3. Unity Muse
Game-changing for Unity developers. Describe animations, textures, or even UI elements in plain English — Muse generates them on the fly. I use it to prototype character walk cycles, environmental effects, and even shader variations. unity.com/products/muse
4. AI Image to 3D Model Tools
- Rodin (Hyper3D): Turn 2D images into 3D models instantly — hyper3d.ai
- Tripo3D: Fast, clean topology from single images
- CSM (Common Sense Machines): High-quality 3D from sketches
5. AI Video Generation (My Favorites)
- Meta AI Video: Best for cinematic, photorealistic clips
- Grok Video: Fast, creative, and surprisingly coherent
- Veo 3: Google’s frontier model — stunning motion and physics
- Sora (OpenAI): Still the gold standard for narrative video
For Everyday Tasks & Web Dev
1. Claude Sonnet 4.5 in VS Code
My #1 coding companion. With the Continue or Cody extension, I can:
- Refactor entire PHP classes with context
- Generate HTML/CSS from mockups
- Debug Unity C# scripts with full project context
2. PersonalChef AI
Scans your fridge, learns your diet, and generates waste-free meal plans. I love the “use these 5 ingredients” mode.
3. TimeBlock
AI scheduling that respects your energy levels. Integrates with Google Calendar and Todoist.
Balancing AI and Human Creativity
AI handles the technical grunt work — I focus on the soul of the art. Let AI generate 50 chair variations; I pick the one that tells the story.
Ethical Considerations
I only use tools from companies transparent about training data and artist compensation. Support ethical AI.
Featured Playlist
Check out my video compilation of AI tool demos, 3D workflows, and rapid prototyping: