With the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) products over the past few years, ChatGPT has arguably received the bulk of attention recently, but it’s now just one of many advanced AI tools available to consumers. As AI steadily becomes a component of communication, education, and business, people are beginning to ask how different AI systems compare, what makes them unique, what risks they should be mindful of, or how they might be used in everyday scenarios. Whether for generating content, researching, managing work tasks, or simply having a conversation, understanding the landscape of AI tools is essential. Even if you personally are very opposed to AI even existing, I feel it is important to understand what is out there.
| Product | Platforms | Features | Est. MAU (2025) | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT (OpenAI) | Web; iOS & Android apps | Text, Image, Voice | 601.5 million | GPT-4 (Plus), image generation/analysis, voice input, plugins |
| DeepSeek (DeepSeek Inc.) | iOS & Android apps | Text, Image, Voice | 117 million | 600B+ param model (DeepSeek-V3), free to use, strong multilingual support |
| Google Gemini (Google) | Web; Mobile apps | Text, Image, Voice | 67.29 million | Integrated with Google Search, Lens, Gemini Advanced mode |
| Copilot (Microsoft) | Web (copilot.microsoft.com), Edge browser, Bing mobile app | Text, Image, Voice | 28 million | GPT-4 powered, real-time web search, image gen via DALL·E, multiple tone styles |
| Claude (Anthropic) | Web, iOS & Android apps | Text, Image, Voice | 18.9 million | 100K token context, safe & helpful dialog, long content summaries |
| Perplexity AI | Web; iOS app | Text, Image, Voice | 15 million | Real-time answers with citations, research-oriented |
Sources:
https://explodingtopics.com/blog/chatgpt-users
https://www.wheresyoured.at/wheres-the-money/
https://doit.software/blog/google-gemini-statistics
https://www.businessofapps.com/data/microsoft-copilot-statistics/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DeepSeek/comments/1ilv80o/after_the_official_release_of_the_deepseek_app/
https://analyzify.com/statsup/anthropic
https://americanbazaaronline.com/2025/03/21/perplexity-aims-for-a-18-billion-valuation-460996/
https://www.demandsage.com/perplexity-ai-statistics/
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is a flagship product in the world of AI-powered assistants. Since its public debut in late 2022, it has rapidly become one of the most recognized names in consumer-facing AI. It runs on the GPT-4-turbo model (for pro users), which allows it to understand and generate human-like text, solve math problems, compose essays, summarize articles, write computer code, and interpret images. ChatGPT is available through both web and mobile applications and includes plugins and tools like DALL·E for image generation, code interpreter (a.k.a. advanced data analysis), and internet browsing. The assistant is designed to be general-purpose, and its utility spans education, writing, software development, customer support, and more. With widespread availability and regular updates, ChatGPT is often the first choice for those exploring what AI assistants can do.
DeepSeek (DeepSeek Inc.)
DeepSeek, developed by DeepSeek Inc., is a rising star among AI tools, particularly in Asia. Based in China, DeepSeek offers a powerful multimodal platform capable of handling both text and image-based tasks. The assistant is accessible through a straightforward web interface and is designed with multilingual support in mind, making it highly inclusive. DeepSeek’s models are continually improving and being trained to provide more nuanced, localized responses. While not as globally recognized as OpenAI or Google’s offerings, DeepSeek is quickly carving out a niche with its cultural adaptability, competitive performance, and commitment to open access. It’s becoming a popular choice for those seeking a strong alternative with different language strengths and user-focused accessibility.
Google Gemini (Google)
Google Gemini, previously known as Bard, is Google’s premier AI assistant that builds on years of natural language processing research. It is powered by Google’s Gemini model family and is tightly woven into the company’s vast ecosystem, including tools like Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Search. This integration allows Gemini to function as an intelligent co-pilot for both personal and professional use. Users can generate images, write code, assist in writing and formatting documents, and interact with visual content. As a fully multimodal model, Gemini aims to reason across text and visuals more fluidly than earlier models. It is also becoming a default AI layer within Android and Chrome, making it an extremely convenient choice for billions of users who are already embedded within Google’s product ecosystem.
Copilot (Microsoft)
Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant integrated across Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint, as well as the Windows operating system and Edge browser. It is built on OpenAI’s technology, offering similar capabilities to ChatGPT but customized for productivity-focused tasks. Copilot’s strength lies in its seamless integration with workplace tools. It can draft emails, automate Excel spreadsheet formulas, generate meeting summaries, suggest edits to documents, and support brainstorming within presentations. Designed primarily for business users and enterprise environments, Copilot is increasingly being positioned as an essential tool for enhancing office productivity and reducing manual workload. With Microsoft embedding Copilot into more of its services, its reach is expanding quickly.
Claude (Anthropic)
Claude, named after the information theory pioneer Claude Shannon, is the conversational AI assistant developed by Anthropic. The Claude models, including the latest Claude 3 series, emphasize principles of safety, transparency, and alignment. Anthropic has taken a unique approach to AI development by instilling its assistant with a strong framework around helpfulness, honesty, and harmlessness. Claude supports text and image processing and has been praised for its measured and responsible tone. It is gaining traction among academics, researchers, and users who prioritize ethical AI practices. Claude is accessible through its web interface and via API, with growing integration into third-party applications. Its thoughtful responses and user-friendly interface make it an excellent alternative to more commercially aggressive offerings.
Perplexity AI
Perplexity AI stands apart from traditional chat-based assistants by positioning itself as an AI-powered search engine. It combines the conversational flexibility of a chatbot with the factual accuracy of real-time search. The system delivers responses that are typically backed by citations, helping users verify the information and dig deeper if desired. It excels at questions that benefit from updated information or web-based context. Perplexity is particularly popular with students, journalists, and researchers who value transparency in sources. Rather than focusing on imaginative writing or content creation, Perplexity targets clarity, relevance, and fact-checking, offering a more refined and research-oriented AI experience.
Growing Collection of AI Tools
As you can see there is a growing collection of AI tools, each with its own specialty and design philosophy. Some, like Gemini and Copilot, are tightly embedded within major tech ecosystems. Others, like Claude and DeepSeek, focus on safety or regional customization. Perplexity is redefining how we think about AI and search, while ChatGPT continues to expand its dominance with versatility and accessibility. As AI steadily becomes a more prevalent aspect of our lives, understanding the differences between these tools allows users to make smarter choices.
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