#304 Max: The 2026 AI Tool Tier List – From S-Tier Money Printers to F-Tier Slop

95% of AI tools are "junk drawer" wrappers. 🛑 We’re ranking the 24 tools that actually impact your bottom line. Whether you are building an empire with Cursor or researching with NotebookLM, this list separates the high-leverage assets from the overhyped novelties.

We’ll talk about:

• The S-Tier "Five": Why ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, Perplexity, and NotebookLM are the non-negotiable foundations for anyone making money in 2026.
• The Coding Cheat Code: How Cursor AI has redefined software development, allowing solo founders to build MVPs in weeks rather than months.
• The Platform Trap: Why Apple Intelligence and Gemini fall into the D an ...