It’s that time of year when everyone’s talking about gratitude around the dinner table. We’re thankful for the usual suspects—family, friends, and pie—but we’re also raising a toast to the tech tools that make work (and life) a little smarter, faster, and easier to navigate.
So before you go back for seconds, here are four of the tech tools we’re raising a toast to this year.
ChatGPT (and the rise of AI copilots)
You knew this one was coming. Generative AI has gone from futuristic concept to daily sidekick. Whether you’re brainstorming ideas, writing code, or planning your next big move (or your grocery list), AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude have become the colleagues who never sleep—and don’t mind editing your drafts at 2 a.m.
If 2025 was about learning AI, 2026 is about using it—every day, in every workflow.
Notion and the art of organized chaos
We love a good system, but Notion took it to another level. It’s where your to-do list, strategy doc, and wild midnight ideas all coexist. Whether you’re building a product roadmap or just trying to remember which workshop you signed up for, Notion gives structure to the beautiful chaos of modern work.
Bonus: their AI assistant now feels less like a gimmick and more like an actual productivity partner.
Figma (the collaboration hero)
We’ve been Figma fans since its inception, and we’re still thankful for tools that make teamwork less painful. Figma continues to set the bar. From UX designers to data analysts mapping dashboards, it’s the ultimate playground for collaborative creativity. It’s where design meets iteration—and where great ideas actually get built instead of buried in feedback threads.
Slack (because email can only do so much)
There’s a reason Slack made the list again. It’s not just for sending gifs or urgent “quick question?” messages—it’s how global teams stay connected. Between AI-powered search, automation, and integrations that actually save time, Slack continues to prove that clear, global communication is still the best productivity hack.
Honorable mention: Whatever keeps you learning
We’re especially thankful for the tools that keep people curious. The ones that turn “I’d like to learn that someday” into “I’m actually confident doing it.”
At GA, that means everything from hands-on workshops like AI for Workplace Efficiency and UX & UI Design Fundamentals in Figma, to 40-hour short courses in Data Analytics and Python Programming. Each one’s designed to turn curiosity into real, career-ready skills that stick.
Because while tools change fast, the ability to learn—and keep learning—is what makes you future-proof.
A little gratitude goes a long way
As we head into 2026, we’re thankful for the people—and the tools—that make progress possible. Because at the end of the day, tech is only as powerful as the humans behind it. Here’s to staying curious, adaptable, and ready for whatever comes next.