Is there a definitive champion in the realm of generative AI bots Copilot?
The recent and rapid surge of generative AI chatbots cannot be overlooked, as more and more of these applications are becoming available to users and integrating themselves into the software and hardware we utilize daily.
Just like selecting your preferred email service or music streaming platform, you now have the option to choose your favorite AI chatbot as well. To assist you in determining which one suits you best, we have tested three of the most prominent ones here.
While there are other options to consider, such as Perplexity and Claude, our focus for now is on the three most renowned names in the field: Microsoft’s Copilot, ChatGPT from OpenAI, and Google Gemini.
In addition to providing you with an overview of each bot, we have conducted three standard tests for each. Discover how these AI systems fared with “a fun and simple game idea for a 5-year-old’s birthday party,” “a new smartphone application concept that is likely to attract a large audience, along with a name,” and “instructions on how to reset macOS and important considerations to keep in mind beforehand.”
For the purposes of this review, we have compared the free AI models available on each of these chatbots at the time of publication, rather than the premium versions.
Microsoft Copilot
You can access this service on: various platforms including Web, Windows, Android, and iOS.
Pricing: Complimentary or $20 per month (enhanced access to latest models).
Notable features include: text, images, code, and documents.
Copilot can be found across various Microsoft platforms such as Bing, Windows, and OneDrive. Additionally, it is accessible through web and mobile applications. It is worth noting that you can utilize Copilot without registering an account, although your usage may be limited if you do not sign in with your Microsoft credentials.
Copilot seamlessly integrates with Microsoft’s Bing search engine and often includes web links as citations in its responses. This feature proves to be quite useful when you want to verify the accuracy of the AI-generated information. Moreover, Copilot adopts a friendly and conversational tone, providing a range of prompt suggestions whenever you open the application.
Underneath Copilot’s functionality lies OpenAI’s GPT-4, serving as the AI engine (until Microsoft develops its own). However, there are distinct differences in the tools, particularly in the three chat settings available to adjust Copilot’s text output: More Creative, More Balanced, and More Precise.
Regarding our specific challenges, Copilot proposed “What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf?” for our 5-year-olds and suggested a virtual interior design augmented reality app for smartphones. Although it did not provide a name for the app, it encouraged us to exercise creativity in naming it.
When it came to resetting a Mac, Copilot provided accurate instructions, which were apparently sourced directly from the Apple support website. It also emphasized the importance of backing up all data, which is indeed the recommended approach.
If you are deeply entrenched in the Microsoft ecosystem, Copilot is undoubtedly the logical choice. It excels in referencing relevant information from the web and offers clear and straightforward citation links to follow.
OpenAI ChatGPT
You can access it on: the Web, Android, and iOS platforms.
Pricing: Complimentary or $20 per month (enhanced models, additional functionalities).
Features include: text, images, code, and documents.
ChatGPT has been leading the way in generative AI, but the question remains: Is it truly superior to its competitors in practical use? It is easily accessible through the web on any computer or via mobile apps on Android and iOS.
There is a significant difference between the free version of ChatGPT and the $20 per month Plus version. Subscribers gain access to features like image generation and document scanning. Additionally, subscribers can create their own GPTs with custom prompts and data, allowing for unique applications such as analyzing research papers.
ChatGPT Plus offers the latest GPT-4 models, while the free GPT-3.5 model serves as a solid introduction to AI chatbot interactions. Although it lacks the ability to provide web links like Copilot, it is efficient and versatile.
Choosing ChatGPT as your chatbot means staying at the forefront of AI advancements, with regular updates and enhancements. However, the most impressive features are available with a subscription, making it less ideal for those on a budget.
In our tests, ChatGPT performed well. It suggested a fun twist on musical statues and provided detailed macOS reset instructions, albeit slightly outdated. The smartphone app recommendation, FitTrack, aimed to monitor both physical and mental well-being, showcasing thoughtful suggestions from ChatGPT.
Google Gemini
You can access it on: the Internet, Android, and Apple devices.
Pricing: Free or $20 per month (enhanced compatibility with Google’s other applications and newer device models)
Features include: text, images, code, and documents.
Finally, Google Gemini (formerly Google Bard) is accessible as a web app, a standalone Android app, and within the Google app for iOS. There are two options available: free and paid, with the paid plan ($20 per month) being part of Google One, offering additional features such as cloud storage.
Paying a monthly fee grants access to a more advanced model (referred to as Gemini), which may not always be noticeable but can be beneficial in areas like coding or math.
Regardless of the Gemini version chosen, the interface resembles ChatGPT, displaying previous conversations on the left side of the screen. Connecting to past conversations is simple, and the ability to view multiple draft responses for the same prompt is a useful feature.
Similar to Copilot and Microsoft, Gemini is ideal for users already utilizing various Google products, possibly encountering it through Google Docs or Gmail. In terms of responses and interface, it leans more towards the OpenAI offering, being efficient but not as user-friendly as Copilot.
When addressing a macOS reset query, Gemini provided a sensible response like ChatGPT, although it lacked updates for the latest Apple Silicon Macs. However, it did include a source link for verification, similar to Copilot but unlike ChatGPT.
Gemini suggested an app called Swap & Share Shelf for lending items to neighbors, a practical idea, and a party game involving a magical creature instead of a donkey, adding a unique twist to a classic game, similar to ChatGPT’s creativity.
The comparison did not aim to determine a clear winner, as Copilot, ChatGPT, and Gemini are all evenly matched in their capabilities.