Does it solve a problem you had BEFORE seeing the ad? Weighted triple: a 10/10 tool for a problem you don't have is a 0/10 purchase. Write the problem down first, then look at tools.
"5 AI tools you can't ignore" — yes you can
Every week brings a new listicle of POWERFUL tools that "solve anything." Most add a subscription, a data exposure, and a workflow you'll abandon in three weeks. Here's a five-axis scorecard that turns tool hype into an adopt/skip decision in five minutes — score any tool you're considering right now.
Score a tool
50/100weighted score
Drag to rotate
Rate 0–10 on each axis
What each axis means
Where do your prompts and files go? Look for: training opt-out, retention period, SOC 2 or equivalent, and whether the vendor resells "usage signals." No privacy page = score 0.
Can you export your data and switch in an afternoon? Proprietary formats, locked-in workflows, and annual-only contracts score low. The easier it is to leave, the safer it is to arrive.
Sticker price + credits burned + seats + the "Pro tier you'll actually need." A $20/mo tool that needs $60 of credits is an $80 tool. Score clarity, not cheapness.
Test with YOUR real task, not the demo. Run the same input three times: consistent, usable output scores high; roulette scores low. Never score this from a launch video.
Red flags in tool listicles
"Solves anything"
A tool with no stated domain has no stated evaluation. Real tools name their job: "transcribes meetings," not "unlocks superpowers."
No pricing mentioned
Threads that hide pricing are usually paid placements or affiliate funnels — the author earns when you click, not when the tool works.
Screenshots, no workflows
A pretty output image tells you nothing about the 40 minutes of retries behind it. Look for someone showing the full loop, failures included.
Urgency framing
"Can't ignore in 2026," "everyone is switching" — manufactured FOMO. Good tools survive a two-week evaluation; hype needs you to skip it.