I tested 3 different “topic generator” tools. Here’s which one didn’t suck.

[Valio]

I have opinions about essay topic generators. Most are garbage keyword stuffers.

I tested three against the 2026 trend forecasts :

1. Generic “AI Topic Generator” (free)

• Input: “Climate change”
• Output: “Discuss the effects of climate change on the environment.”
• Verdict: Literally useless. This is not a topic. This is a subject line.

2. EssayShark Topic Generator

• Input: “Technology ethics”
• Output: “Should autonomous vehicles prioritize passengers or pedestrians?” (Actually not terrible. Specific. Argue-able.)
• Verdict: Occasionally useful. Hit rate ~30%.

3. The “Manual” Method (Just reading EDUCAUSE and Harvard trend reports)

• Input: 20 minutes of skimming expert forecasts
• Output: “How should universities measure the ROI of AI tools before purchasing them?”
• Verdict: Requires effort. Hit rate 100%.

Conclusion: No generator replaces actually knowing what experts are talking about this year. Use the forecasts as your source list .