With the rise of “Industry 4.0” and “Made in China 2025”, the level of intelligent manufacturing and automation in the manufacturing industry has been  ontinuously improved. As an important part of the production process, cutting tools have become more precise and intelligent. Intelligent cutting tool is an important link and necessary guarantee to realize intelligent manufacturing and automatic production. This paper discusses in detail the latest research progress of intelligent tools, including intelligent tool design, key technologies of intelligent tools, digital twin technology and intelligent tool systems. The research results of scholars on integrated optimization and design of intelligent tool, intelligent tool monitoring and control technology, and intelligent tool system based on tool control and recommendation are summarized. The application of digital twin technology in the field of intelligent tool is briefly described, and the current shortcomings and future development direction of intelligent tool are pointed out.