ChatGPT isn’t the only AI tool on the creative street. Microsoft opened access to Bing Chat in March, while Google has a waitlist for its AI tool Bard.
So, how do you pick between them? They’re all AI tools but offer different strengths for your process. We’ll walk through each to help you decide how to use them.
ChatGPT gives the most creative rein with ultra-human responses and customizable instructions.
A writer has the agency to tweak and edit their work as they see fit.
The only AI tool that comes close to that human customization is ChatGPT. The tool follows instructions to the ‘t and responds with human-like grace. It can even handle creative authoring, as it can compose songs and poetry.
Even after it produces a response, the tool lets you customize even further with instructions like “add more style.” It even learns your personal style the more you use it — a collection practice that didn’t meet Italy’s data privacy standards.
Once you pay for a subscription, you have the world at your fingertips. ChatGPT can handle up to 25,000 words and even process images in its software.
Best for: Versatility; creative, human-like responses and significant inputs
Microsoft’s Bing Chat keeps the receipts
Maybe ChatGPT gave you a historic-to-current lowdown on a political topic — but where did the info come from? You don’t know, which adds more research to your plate.
On the other hand, Bing Chat offers linkable sources for every answer. Checking for accuracy is as easy as a click.
Don’t worry — Bing Chat still gives you the same conversational, human-like answer that made AI tools famous. After all, it’s powered by Open AI’s GPT-4 and lets you tweak answers with more precision, balance, and creativity (three filters). But researchers, journalists, scholars, students, and even lawyers will save extra time with Bing Chat’s massive web indexing, current information, and meticulous sourcing and footnotes.
Best for: Academics, current events, detailed research
Google Bard responds the fastest…but it’s still just an experiment.
Google proclaims Bard an experiment at this time — it’s not even available in Canada, though people in the UK and the US can sign up for a waitlist. Still, we’ve seen tons of accounts online about Google’s new tool, and they’re less than stellar.
Search Engine Land points out a few inconsistencies. For example, Bard still can’t distinguish homonyms, leading to inaccurate information for users. Plus, the tool has been known to plagiarize entire phrases.
While the tool doesn’t include sources, it wins points for speed and realism. Most reviewers find Bard’s responses considerably faster than Bing or ChatGPT — a plus for brainstorming and getting creative juices flowing. Remember, Google Bard is still in its early stages, so it’s possible they’ll fix their current snags and learn from user feedback.
Best for: Quick, general brainstorming
