Essential AI Productivity Tools Every CS Student Should Know in 2025

AI helpers don't have to feel overwhelming. A handful of friendly tools can smooth your day without taking over your workflow. Here’s the quick list I share with friends who want practical wins and nothing more.

Everyday boosts

GitHub Copilot handles the boring boilerplate while I focus on logic. I still review every line, but it keeps me moving.
Cursor lets me chat with the current file when I'm stuck. Explaining the bug out loud to an IDE surprisingly works.
Perplexity gives short, cited summaries so I can understand a new concept before diving into textbooks.

Keep it simple

Pick one tool for coding help and one for research, then live with them for a week. If they actually save time, keep them. If not, delete and move on. AI should feel like a tiny helper—never another project to manage.