Running an AI tool review site means I test 50+ new tools monthly. Most are wrappers around GPT-4 with a UI. Here's how I separate signal from noise in under 10 minutes per tool.

The 90% Filter (Eliminates Most Tools Instantly)

Before I even sign up, three questions:

Does it solve a problem I had before AI existed? If the "problem" only exists because AI created it (e.g., "manage your AI-generated content"), skip.

Can I describe the value without saying "AI-powered"? If removing "AI" from the description makes it meaningless, it's a feature not a product.

Would I pay for this if it weren't novel? Novelty wears off in a week. Utility doesn't.

This filter eliminates ~90% of new launches immediately.

The 10-Minute Deep Evaluation

For tools that pass the filter:

Minute 1-2: First-Use Experience

Time to first value (TTFV): can I get output in under 60 seconds?

Does it require my data/API keys to demo?…