🤯 Your Own AI Agent Connected to WhatsApp & Slack

#94 NTSOT | Discover the best tools of the week! Self-hosted AI, AI brand monitoring, social media automation, and app generation with AI.

Author

LucaG
February 16, 2026

Hey friends!

Just days ago, Google and OpenAI announced DeepSeek's "distillation attacks". Basically, stealing their AI's thinking patterns through massive API probing.

It's a reminder that in AI, remaining at the forefront involves not only innovation but also safeguarding it.

Speaking of carving out space in crowded markets: I've been building ShortPen, my answer to overpriced link management platforms that charge hundreds for basic tracking.

Sometimes disruption starts with asking, "Why does this cost so much?".

This week's tools share that same spirit: practical, powerful, and built for people who want results without the enterprise price tag.

Read this newsletter on Meco. The app to collect all your newsletters in one place and clean up your inbox (100% free).

What Will You Find Today?

  • 5 Tools of the Week

  • Some Lifetime Deals I found this week (pay once and keep forever)

1. OpenClaw - Personal AI Assistant

OpenClaw lets you run an AI assistant on your own machine and connect it to chat apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and Slack.

It remembers past conversations, supports multiple channels, controls a browser, and has skills/plugins for custom tasks.

Being self‑hosted and open source, it gives you full control over your data and system.

🎯 Who is it ideal for?

Developers, technical founders, power users.

💰 How much does it cost?

Free.

🌐 Website

2. Citable - GEO for the AI Era

Citable measures how AI chatbots talk about your brand.

It tracks citations across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and Grok and shows where you’re mentioned and where you’re not.

Persona‑based insights reveal gaps and competitor comparisons, and the platform gives action plans to improve your presence in AI answers.

🎯 Who is it ideal for?

Marketing leaders, growth teams, agencies.

💰 How much does it cost?

Free plan: ❌

Paid plans: from $99/month

🌐 Website

3. Cue - Social Media Scheduling Tool

Cue is a social media scheduler with an AI writer.

From one dashboard, you can post to platforms like X, Instagram, and LinkedIn, create threads, generate images, and train the AI on your brand voice.

It offers smart scheduling based on engagement patterns, an analytics dashboard to track performance, and an API for developers.

🎯 Who is it ideal for?

Creators, marketers, small teams.

💰 How much does it cost?

Free plan: ✅ 

Paid plans: from $15/month

🌐 Website

Blink is an AI‑powered app builder that creates production‑ready web, SaaS, and mobile apps from chat prompts.

It sets up your database, authentication, APIs and hosting automatically, and includes built‑in AI models for text, image and voice generation.

You focus on the idea while the AI agent builds the backend and deploys your app in minutes.

🎯 Who is it ideal for?

Solo founders, developers, non‑technical entrepreneurs.

💰 How much does it cost?

Free plan: ✅ 

Paid plans: from $25/month

🌐 Website

5. Thumbfa.st - Stunning AI-powered YouTube Thumbnails

Thumbfast generates YouTube thumbnails with AI in seconds.

It creates up to four variations at once while keeping your face and style consistent, and you can upload style references to guide the look.

It’s built for creators who want fast, high‑performing thumbnails without endless design cycles.

🎯 Who is it ideal for?

YouTube creators, video marketers, content studios.

💰 How much does it cost?

Free plan: ✅ 

Paid plans: from $20/month

🌐 Website

Do you enjoy reading newsletters? Click here! 💌 

🤯 Lifetime Deals of the Week

Exclusive offers that get you a lifetime subscription to the tools. Pay once and keep forever.

  • DiaFlow ($89) - Automate repetitive tasks on a secure AI platform using agents and workflows built from a single prompt.

  • Rayo ($79) - Create, publish, and track SEO blogs with AI-powered research and WordPress publishing.

  • GetTerms ($79) - Stay compliant with data protection laws using a user-friendly cookie banner and website policy generator.

Setapp - My Favourite Tool

Drowning in apps? Setapp offers a Netflix-style subscription for Mac & iPhone apps. Over 240 productivity, creativity, and utility tools for only $9.99/mo.

Check it out at Setapp.com (30-day extended free trial)

Are you enjoying the newsletter? You could leave a review here: Leave a review.

Would you like to give me feedback or recommend other tools?

Then answer this e-mail or get in touch with me on X (you can write me anything you want, even just say hello 😄)

I’m Luca, and when I’m not curating transformative tools for NTSOT, I’m sharing real-time insights and personal reflections that could be the spark for your next big idea.

Follow me [@the_lucag] on X, for an insider's look at productivity hacks, marketing trends, and the occasional thought-provoking conversation.

Some links in this publication may be affiliate links.

Not yet part of NTSOT? Click here to subscribe and dive into the world of extraordinary tools. Quick, simple, and straight to the good stuff.