How We Test AI Tools
No AI-generated fluff. No marketing claims. Every tool runs through the same gauntlet.
The 5 Standardized Tasks
Every AI writing tool is tested with the same 5 prompts, designed to reflect real-world use cases:
Task 1: Blog Post Draft
Prompt: "Write a 500-word blog post explaining quantum computing to a marketing professional — no jargon, practical analogies."
Scored on: Accuracy, readability, structure.
Task 2: Email Sequence
Prompt: "Create a 3-email nurture sequence for a SaaS product launch. Include subject lines."
Scored on: Persuasiveness, personalization, format correctness.
Task 3: Social Media Copy
Prompt: "Write 5 LinkedIn posts promoting a new AI productivity tool. Vary the tone per post."
Scored on: Variety, hook quality, platform appropriateness.
Task 4: Product Description
Prompt: "Write a 150-word product description for noise-canceling headphones targeting audiophiles."
Scored on: Specificity, sensory detail, conversion potential.
Task 5: Data-to-Narrative
Prompt: "Turn these Q2 metrics [table provided] into a 3-paragraph executive summary with key takeaways."
Scored on: Data accuracy, insight quality, conciseness.
The 5 Scoring Dimensions
Each tool receives a 1-10 score on every dimension. Final score is a weighted average:
| Dimension | Weight | What We Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Output Quality | 30% | Accuracy, coherence, grammar, style adherence |
| Ease of Use | 20% | UI intuitiveness, onboarding friction, feature discoverability |
| Speed | 15% | Time from prompt to usable output (measured, not felt) |
| Features | 20% | Templates, integrations, tone controls, team features |
| Value | 15% | Price-to-quality ratio vs competitors at the same tier |
Our Process
- 1 Manual Testing: A real human runs every task, records the session via OBS, and captures all output screenshots.
- 2 Structured Scoring: Results are logged into our JSON scoring template — no memory-based ratings.
- 3 AI-Assisted Draft: Raw data is fed into an LLM for a structured first draft, following our style guide.
- 4 Human Polish: Every draft gets manual review — fact-checking, de-AI-ification, screenshot insertion.
- 5 Continuous Updates: Tools are re-tested after major feature releases. Fresh data, always.