​🧰 The AI Toolbox #1: ChatGPT – Is It Really Worth the Hype?

Label: AI Toolbox

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way we work, learn and solve everyday problems. Almost every week, a new AI tool is launched claiming to be faster, smarter or more powerful than the last.

But which ones are actually worth your time?

Welcome to The AI Toolbox, a new weekly series on Striv where I explore one AI tool at a time and answer the questions that matter most to ordinary people.

This week, we’re starting with the world’s most popular AI assistant – ChatGPT.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an AI-powered assistant developed by OpenAI. You can ask it questions in plain English, just as if you were chatting with another person.

It can help you write emails, generate ideas, explain difficult topics, summarise documents, create blog posts, improve your CV, plan holidays and much more.

Think of it as having a knowledgeable assistant available 24 hours a day.

Is it free?

Yes.

There is a free version that offers plenty of features for beginners. There are also paid plans that provide additional tools and higher usage limits, but you don’t need to pay anything to start learning how AI works.

What can ChatGPT do?

Here are just a few examples:

• Write professional emails.
• Improve your CV.
• Help prepare for job interviews.
• Explain complex subjects in simple language.
• Brainstorm business ideas.
• Create blog posts.
• Summarise long articles.
• Help students study.
• Assist authors with research and planning.

The better your question, the better the answer.

What are the drawbacks?

No AI is perfect.

ChatGPT can occasionally provide inaccurate information or misunderstand a question. That’s why it’s always important to double-check facts, especially when dealing with legal, medical or financial matters.

It should be viewed as a helpful assistant rather than a replacement for human judgement.

Can ChatGPT help you make money?

Yes—but not by itself.

Many people use ChatGPT to:

• Write content for websites.
• Create eBooks.
• Offer freelance writing services.
• Produce social media content.
• Research products and services.
• Save hours on repetitive tasks.

The real value comes from using ChatGPT to improve your productivity, creativity and efficiency.

The Striv Verdict

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

Easy to use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Beginner-friendly: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Value for money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Can it help you earn money? Yes.

If you’re completely new to AI, ChatGPT is the best place to start. It’s easy to learn, incredibly versatile and useful for almost anyone.

Final Thoughts

The world of AI is expanding rapidly, but you don’t need to try every new tool that appears online.

My goal with The AI Toolbox is to test these tools one by one and tell you, in plain English, whether they’re genuinely useful.

If ChatGPT is your first step into AI, you’re starting in the right place.

Next week in The AI Toolbox: Perplexity AI – Is it a better way to search the web?

Whatever Happened to Nokia? The Phone Giant That Lost the Future

🔥 Trending Technology History: The Rise, Fall and Reinvention of Nokia

A company founded in 1865 survived wars, industrial changes and multiple technology revolutions.

But the biggest challenge in Nokia’s long history came from something it helped create: the modern mobile phone.

For many people around the world, their first mobile phone was a Nokia.

The brand represented reliability, durability and simplicity. A Nokia phone was often the device people trusted to make calls, send messages and last for years.

At one point, Nokia was not just a successful company — it was the world leader in mobile phones.

Today, Nokia is still a recognised technology company, but it is no longer the phone giant that once dominated the world.

So what happened?

The Rise of a Mobile Phone Giant

Nokia’s story is one of the most remarkable transformations in business history.

The company was founded in 1865 by Finnish engineer Fredrik Idestam in Tampere, Finland. Originally, Nokia was a pulp and paper company, far removed from the world of technology.

Over the decades, Nokia expanded into different industries, including rubber products, cables and electronics.

Eventually, the company discovered its biggest opportunity: telecommunications.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, Nokia became the biggest mobile phone manufacturer in the world.

Its phones were everywhere.

The famous Nokia 3310, launched in 2000, became a cultural icon. People remember it for its durability, excellent battery life and simple design.

Nokia was not simply making phones.

It was shaping how the world communicated.

The Smartphone Revolution Changed Everything

For years, Nokia’s success was built around making reliable mobile phones.

But the definition of a phone was about to change.

The arrival of smartphones transformed the industry.

A mobile device was no longer just for calling and texting. People wanted:

• internet access
• apps
• powerful cameras
• entertainment
• social media
• a computer experience in their hands

When Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, it changed consumer expectations.

Android devices quickly followed, creating a new generation of smartphones.

The competition was no longer only about hardware.

The future belonged to software.

Why Did Nokia Struggle?

The interesting thing about Nokia’s decline is that it was not because the company lacked talent.

Nokia had some of the best engineers and researchers in the industry.

The challenge was recognising how quickly the market was changing.

The company had built enormous success around traditional mobile phones, but smartphones created a completely different battlefield.

Operating systems, applications and digital ecosystems became just as important as the physical device.

While competitors moved quickly into this new world, Nokia struggled to adapt.

By the time it made major changes, the smartphone revolution was already underway.

Nokia Did Not Disappear — It Reinvented Itself

Many people believe Nokia disappeared after losing the mobile phone race.

That is not the full story.

Nokia changed direction.

Today, the company focuses less on consumer phones and more on areas such as:

• telecommunications infrastructure
• network technology
• 5G solutions
• enterprise connectivity

The company that once connected people through mobile phones is now helping build the networks that connect the modern world.

In this way, Nokia’s journey is similar to other technology giants.

Survival often depends on the ability to reinvent yourself.

The Lesson From Nokia

The story of Nokia teaches one of the biggest lessons in technology:

Success today does not guarantee success tomorrow.

The biggest companies in the world can lose their position if they stop adapting.

Technology rewards companies that understand where the future is heading.

IBM transformed from a computer hardware company into a leader in enterprise technology and services.

Nokia transformed from a mobile phone manufacturer into a telecommunications company.

The question every technology company must ask is:

Are we preparing for the future, or are we protecting the past?

Final Thoughts

Nokia’s story is not simply about failure.

It is about change.

A company that began in 1865 as a paper manufacturer went on to revolutionise mobile communication and eventually reinvent itself again.

The technology giants of today should pay attention.

Because history has shown us one thing:

No company is too big to be challenged.

Which technology company today do you think could become the next Nokia? Share your thoughts.

Whatever Happened to IBM? The Tech Giant Quietly Shaping the AI Era

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When people talk about artificial intelligence today, the same names usually come up.

OpenAI.

Google.

Microsoft.

Anthropic.

xAI.

But there’s another company that’s been involved in computing for more than a century.

IBM.

For a lot of people, IBM is remembered as the company that made some of the world’s first business computers.

It helped shape the modern computing industry long before smartphones, cloud computing, or AI became everyday topics.

So where does IBM fit today?

The answer surprised me.

Rather than competing to build the most popular chatbot, IBM has taken a different path.

Its focus is on helping organisations use AI inside their own businesses.

Think of industries like:

• healthcare
• banking
• manufacturing
• government
• insurance

These organisations often deal with sensitive information, strict regulations, and complex systems that can’t simply be handed over to a public chatbot.

That’s where IBM sees its opportunity.

Instead of asking, “How do we build the next ChatGPT?”

IBM is asking:

“How do we help organisations use AI safely, responsibly, and at scale?”

That has led the company to invest heavily in areas such as enterprise AI, hybrid cloud computing, AI governance, and AI agents that can assist with business workflows. (IBM Newsroom)

One example is watsonx, IBM’s AI platform designed for businesses that want to build or manage AI while maintaining control over their own data. IBM has also expanded tools for coordinating AI agents and helping organisations monitor how AI is used across their operations. (IBM)

At the same time, IBM isn’t without challenges.

The AI market has become intensely competitive, and newer companies have captured much of the public attention. IBM has also faced pressure from investors as businesses shift more spending toward AI infrastructure such as servers and data centres. (Financial Times)

Yet that doesn’t make IBM irrelevant.

If anything, it highlights that there are different ways to compete in the AI industry.

Some companies build consumer products.

Others provide the infrastructure.

IBM has largely positioned itself in the second group.

Personally, I find that interesting because it reminds us that not every successful technology company needs to dominate the headlines.

Some build the tools that millions of people use without ever knowing who made them.

IBM may not be the loudest voice in AI.

But it’s still trying to play an important role in how businesses adopt the technology.

Perhaps that’s the bigger lesson.

The AI race isn’t only about creating the smartest chatbot.

It’s also about building the systems that allow organisations to use AI securely, responsibly, and at scale.

And in that conversation, IBM is still very much part of the story.

💬 What do you think?

When you think of IBM today, do you still see a computer company from the past, or do you think it can remain relevant in the AI era?