# AI tools by domain: a builder's landscape (2026) Entries are **representative, not ranked**. Capabilities and pricing change weekly; verify before you commit budget. ## How we picked these domains and products - **Live recency check:** web search per domain for launches, shutdowns, and “legacy” labels—not model memory alone. - **Official sources first**, then cross-check 2026 comparisons and usage snapshots (e.g. OpenRouter traffic for images). - **Same depth for every product**, including K2F in the documents domain. - **As of September 2026.** Not exhaustive. ## What we excluded (and why) - **OpenAI Sora (consumer app and Videos API):** discontinued in 2026 (app April 26; API September 24) with no documented replacement endpoint—teams moved to **Veo**, **Kling**, and **Seedance** for new work. - **GitHub Copilot as a 2026 “coding agent” peer:** still maintained for inline completion inside GitHub, but the **autonomous agent conversation** in mid-2026 centers on **OpenAI Codex**, **Cursor**, and **Claude Code**—not 2022-era “Copilot vs everything” framing. - **Midjourney as the default image API story:** still a consumer product, but **developer/API traffic** in 2026 heavily favors Google’s **Nano Banana** family and **FLUX.2** for shipped pipelines. ## At a glance | Domain | Representative products | Typical output | Best when… | |--------|-------------------------|----------------|------------| | Coding agents | OpenAI Codex, Cursor, Claude Code (+ **OpenCode** OSS harness) | Diffs, PRs, cloud task patches | You automate repo work end-to-end | | AI video | Google Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0, Seedance 2.0, **Runway** | Short clips with audio | You need marketing or previz after Sora’s retirement | | Audio & voice | ElevenLabs, Suno | Speech or music tracks | You dub product UI or ship social audio | | Image generation | Nano Banana 2, FLUX.2 | PNG/Web assets | You want Gemini-speed APIs or self-hosted FLUX | | Agentic browsing | Perplexity Comet (+ Computer) | Web actions, cited research | You delegate browser tasks (watch credit meters) | | Enterprise copilots | Microsoft 365 Copilot, Google Workspace Gemini | Office / Google files | Your org already lives in M365 or Workspace | | Legal AI | Harvey, Thomson Reuters CoCounsel | Cited drafts and research | You need enterprise legal controls | | Support AI | Intercom Fin, Zendesk AI; **Sierra** / **Decagon** (enterprise agents) | Resolved tickets | You run support on those platforms | | Documents & publishing | K2F, Manus, Gamma, **Genspark** | `.K2F`, slides, exports | You need **files**—open verify gates or fast SaaS | ## Coding agents Autonomous coding in 2026 is a **three-way workflow choice** (terminal vs IDE vs ChatGPT bundle)—plus optional open harnesses like OpenCode if you want MIT-licensed tooling. None of these replace a document compiler. ### OpenAI Codex - **OpenAI’s coding agent stack:** open-source [Codex CLI](https://github.com/openai/codex) in the terminal, IDE extension (VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf), and **Codex Web** at chatgpt.com/codex ([CLI docs](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/codex/cli)). - Supports local repo work, scripted `codex exec`, and **cloud delegation** (`codex cloud`) to run tasks remotely and apply diffs locally. - **Agent fit:** High—MCP, skills ecosystem, multi-surface same agent family. - **Limitations:** Plans, credits, and cloud features vary; not a document layout engine. Pair with K2F for publish gates ([compare Codex](/compare/codex)). ### Cursor - Agent-first workspace ([Cursor Agent](https://cursor.com/docs/agent/overview)); Cursor 3 emphasizes parallel local/cloud agents and broad model routing. - **Best when** you want the agent inside the editor with Tab completions and visual diffs. - **Limitations:** Proprietary; monthly credits by model tier. ### Claude Code - Terminal-first agent bundled with Claude subscriptions; strong for long-horizon repo tasks and hooks-driven automation. - **Best when** you live in the shell and want Anthropic’s orchestration story. - **Limitations:** Separate billing from ChatGPT/Codex; not multi-vendor by default. ## AI video generation After **Sora’s 2026 shutdown**, production teams standardize on models with **active APIs and native audio**. Clips remain short; plan editorial finishing separately. ### Google Veo 3.1 - Google’s cinematic line; widely cited in 2026 roundups for realism, prompt adherence, and **native audio** (including vertical/4K modes in 3.1-era specs). - **Limitations:** Product entitlements and duration caps depend on Google’s consumer/cloud surfaces. ### Kling 3.0 / Omni - Strong for **multi-shot** storytelling, camera control, and synchronized dialogue in recent tiers. - **Limitations:** Regional and reseller pricing varies. ### Seedance 2.0 - ByteDance model noted for **multi-shot consistency** and multimodal references in 2026 benchmarks. - **Limitations:** Moderation and regional availability differ by host platform. ### Runway - Studio and API for generative video (Gen-4.x family on [runway.com](https://runway.com/)); still a common **incumbent** beside newer foundation-model hosts. - **Limitations:** Credit-based pricing; clip length limits. ## Audio & voice AI ### ElevenLabs - TTS, dubbing, and voice APIs ([elevenlabs.io](https://elevenlabs.io/)) for apps and media pipelines. - **Limitations:** Licensing/consent for cloned voices; usage-based pricing. ### Suno - Prompt-to-music for creators ([suno.com](https://suno.com/)). - **Limitations:** Commercial rights governed by product terms—not a replacement for licensed production music. ## Image generation 2026 **API traffic** skews toward Google’s **Nano Banana** line and developer-deployable **FLUX.2**—not 2023 Discord-first defaults. ### Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) - Google’s fast image model ([DeepMind overview](https://deepmind.google/models/gemini-image/flash/)); launched in the **Nano Banana 2** wave (Feb 2026) with editing, consistency, and production resolutions. - **Limitations:** Verify factual claims in images; watermarking via SynthID/C2PA. ### FLUX.2 (Black Forest Labs) - Developer-oriented image stack (API and open checkpoints such as **FLUX.2 Klein**) for cost-sensitive or on-prem generation. - **Limitations:** License terms vary by checkpoint; you own hosting and safety filters. ## AI research & agentic browsing ### Perplexity (Comet + Computer) - **Comet** browser ([perplexity.ai/comet](https://www.perplexity.ai/comet)) delegates research, email drafts, and web chores from a dedicated client. - **Computer / Browser Control** runs actions on sites; as of **August–September 2026**, heavy Computer use is **credit-metered** even for some Pro subscribers—budget beyond the base subscription. - **Limitations:** Not a document compiler; automation costs can spike after promotional credits. ## Enterprise workspace copilots ### Microsoft 365 Copilot - Copilot across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams with tenant Graph context ([Microsoft 365 Copilot](https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/copilot)). - **Limitations:** Admin and licensing complexity; proprietary Office formats. ### Google Workspace with Gemini - Gemini in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides ([Workspace AI](https://workspace.google.com/solutions/ai/)). - **Limitations:** Strongest inside Google-native files. ## Legal & regulated professional AI ### Harvey - Legal platform (Assistant, Vault, agents) with enterprise security ([harvey.ai](https://www.harvey.ai/)). - **Limitations:** Vertical SaaS—not an open publishing format. ### Thomson Reuters CoCounsel - Legal research and drafting within Thomson Reuters subscriptions ([CoCounsel](https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/en/products/cocounsel)). - **Limitations:** Ecosystem-bound. ## Customer support & service AI ### Intercom Fin - AI agent for conversational support on Intercom ([Fin](https://www.intercom.com/fin)). - **Limitations:** Platform-bound. ### Zendesk AI - AI agents and copilot features for ticketing ([Zendesk AI](https://www.zendesk.com/service/ai/)). - **Limitations:** Requires Zendesk estate. ### Sierra and Decagon (enterprise) - **Sierra** ([sierra.ai](https://sierra.ai/)) and **Decagon** ([decagon.ai](https://decagon.ai/)) market **AI customer-service agents** for large brands—often alongside—not instead of—ticketing platforms. - **Limitations:** Enterprise sales cycles; verify product scope vs your CRM stack. ## Documents, publishing & agent-editable deliverables SaaS agents (**Manus**, **Gamma**) optimize speed in a hosted UI. **K2F** optimizes **machine editability**, lock-based pixels, and multi-format export with verification. ### K2F - Open semantic document format and reference engine ([k2f.dev](https://k2f.dev/)); **0.3.x** ships PDF (incl. AcroForm), DOCX, PPTX, IDML, Markdown bridge, [agent skill](https://k2f.dev/skills/k2f), and **stdio MCP** ([status](https://k2f.dev/status)). - **Export accuracy:** **PDF matches the lock pixels**; **DOCX/PPTX/IDML allow slight Office/InDesign reflow** and are **not** fillable forms (AcroForm is PDF-only). - **Agent fit:** High for `pack_verify` gates and one source → many exports; complements **Codex** for code/data orchestration. - **Limitations:** Exports are lock drawings, not round-trip sources (`DOCX_IS_NOT_A_SOURCE`, `PDF_IS_NOT_A_SOURCE`, etc.); not a drag-and-drop Word replacement. ### Manus - Autonomous agent for research-backed documents, slides, and **Wide Research** parallel tasks; **API v2** for automation ([Manus API](https://open.manus.ai/docs/v2/introduction)). - **Limitations:** Proprietary outputs; review stakeholder-ready claims manually. ### Gamma - AI decks, docs, and sites with PPT/PDF/Google Slides export ([gamma.app](https://gamma.app/)). - **Limitations:** Hosted editor; no open verify gate on semantic source. ### Genspark - **Agentic** workspace for research, pages, and slides ([genspark.ai](https://www.genspark.ai/))—overlaps Manus/Gamma on “prompt → deliverable.” - **Limitations:** Proprietary; export and API details vary by plan—verify for production. ## How document publishing fits the wider AI stack 1. **Coding agents (Codex, Cursor, Claude Code)** — plan, implement, analyze data, call APIs. 2. **Document SaaS (Manus, Gamma)** — fastest path from prompt to presentable deck or report. 3. **Document compiler (K2F)** — semantic patches, deterministic lock, integrity banners, and exports your CI can gate. A common 2026 pattern: **Codex** (or Claude Code) owns the repo; **K2F** owns the `.K2F` package and exports; **Gamma** still wins when marketing wants a polished deck without touching git. See [Compare](/compare), [Gallery](/gallery), and [Why K2F exists](/why). ## When to reach for what - **Default agentic coding stack** → Codex, Cursor, or Claude Code (pick by surface: ChatGPT bundle vs IDE vs terminal). - **Video after Sora** → Veo, Kling, or Seedance—confirm API access on your host. - **Images in production APIs** → Nano Banana 2 or FLUX.2—not assumed 2023 leaders. - **Browser delegation** → Perplexity Comet; monitor **Computer credits**. - **Verified Word/PDF/PPTX/IDML from agents** → K2F skill + compiler. - **Research doc + slides in one SaaS loop** → Manus, Genspark, or Gamma. ## Sources & freshness | Area | Last verified | Primary sources | |------|---------------|-----------------| | Codex, Cursor, Claude Code, OpenCode | 2026-09 | github.com/openai/codex, cursor.com, anthropic.com, opencode.ai | | Veo, Kling, Seedance, Runway | 2026-09 | Vendor sites + 2026 video roundups | | Nano Banana, FLUX.2 | 2026-06–09 | deepmind.google, OpenRouter usage reports | | Perplexity Comet | 2026-09 | perplexity.ai; Aug–Sep 2026 Computer credit reporting | | K2F | 2026-09 | k2f.dev/status, exporting guides | | Sora retirement | 2026-09 | openai.com; API shutdown Sep 24, 2026 | This roundup is based on publicly available information at the time of writing. Capabilities, pricing, and policies may change; verify details with the relevant provider.