As we approach the end of 2023, it's becoming increasingly evident that this year has truly earned its moniker as the "year of AI." The pace of artificial intelligence breakthroughs has been nothing short of remarkable, leading to a surge in the adoption of AI tools across various domains. While concerns about the implications of AI persist, a recent study highlights that these fears haven't deterred users, with more than 14 billion visits recorded for ChatGPT alone between September 2022 and August 2023.

According to a survey conducted by Writerbuddy.ai, an online content writing company, ChatGPT emerges as the most popular generative AI tool globally. The survey analyzed over 3,000 artificial intelligence tools using SEMrush, a popular SEO software, to determine the most utilized tools of the year. In total, the top 50 AI tools amassed over 24 billion visits, predominantly from male users.

Here's a glimpse into the top 10 most popular AI tools based on the rankings:

1. ChatGPT
   Tool category: AI Chatbot
   Total visits: 14.6 billion
2. Character.ai
   Tool category: AI Chatbot
   Total visits: 3.8 billion
3. Quillbot
   Tool category: AI Writing
   Total visits: 1.1 billion
4. Midjourney
   Tool category: Image Generator
   Total visits: 500.4 million
5. Hugging Face
   Tool category: Data Science
   Total visits: 316.6 million
6. Bard
   Tool category: AI Chatbot
   Total visits: 241.6 million
7. NovelAI
   Tool category: AI Writing
   Total visits: 238.7 million
8. Capcut
   Tool Category: Video Generator
   Total visits: 203.8 million
9. Janitor AI
   Tool category: AI Chatbot
   Total visits: 192.4 million
10. Civitai
    Tool category: Image Generator
    Total visits: 177.2 million

While ChatGPT has faced negative press in 2023, including leadership shakeups and concerns about potentially harmful AI developments, users continue to flock to the generative tool. ChatGPT's versatility allows it to perform various tasks, from planning weekly schedules to crafting detailed resumes.

Other tools on the list, such as Google's Bard and Quillbot, possess similar capabilities in summarizing and paraphrasing text. However, they have yet to reach the same level of popularity as Open AI's chatbot. Tools like Character.ai and Novel.ai are gaining traction as virtual companions.

Beyond entertainment, the utilization of AI tools for economic opportunities is increasingly emphasized. Susan Gonzales, founder and CEO of AIandYou, a nonprofit teaching AI skills to marginalized communities, advocates for leveraging AI for business improvement, inventory management, customer behavior analysis, and competitive intelligence. Small businesses, in particular, can benefit by targeting marketing and advertising efforts more effectively and identifying new revenue opportunities.

For those seeking side gigs or alternative career paths, Gonzales suggests exploring AI-related skills. Opportunities abound in areas such as tutoring, where online learning resources can help individuals understand how AI works, potentially paving the way to become AI tutors or trainers. As Gonzales notes, "The wonderful thing today is … all the information is out there," making the integration of AI tools into various aspects of life more accessible than ever.