🧠 AI Cheat Sheet: Which Model Does What

🧠 AI Cheat Sheet: Which Model Does What

Your no-fluff guide to the major language models and what they’re actually good for.

Because not all AI tools are built the same and using the right one can save you time, decision fatigue, and about six open tabs.

🤖 ChatGPT (OpenAI)

Best for: Writing, brainstorming, content creation, learning something new
Why we like it: Versatile and quick. Great at turning rough ideas into polished drafts or helping you make sense of unfamiliar topics.
Pro tip: Use GPT-4 (via ChatGPT Plus) for higher quality responses, especially on work tasks.

🔹 Try it for: Marketing copy, launch planning, email drafts, pitch decks, social captions, simplifying complex topics

🧠 Claude (Anthropic)

Best for: Summarizing long documents, thoughtful writing, emotional nuance
Why we like it: Clear, articulate, and able to handle large inputs, Claude is ideal when the task needs both intelligence and a bit of care.
Pro tip: Claude 3 can analyze very large files (like reports or transcripts) and deliver structured, readable summaries.

🔹 Try it for: Recapping PDFs, refining messaging, writing sensitive communications, outlining big projects

💡 Gemini (Google)

Best for: Research, live data, and Google Workspace integration
Why we like it: With access to Google Search, Gemini is strong for current information and trending topics. It also plays nicely with Gmail, Docs, and Sheets.
Pro tip: Great when you’re drafting content that needs up-to-date data or want quick support inside Google tools.

🔹 Try it for: Industry research, product comparisons, content briefs, replying to emails, outlining blog posts

🧰 Copilot (Microsoft / OpenAI)

Best for: Reports, presentations, spreadsheets
Why we like it: Embedded directly in Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot helps you work faster with the tools you already use. Especially strong with data-heavy tasks.
Pro tip: Best for pros who live in PowerPoint, Excel, or Word and want to streamline workflows.

🔹 Try it for: Slide creation, turning spreadsheets into summaries, meeting notes, generating reports

🔍 Perplexity

Best for: Research, trend tracking, source-based insights, and competitive analysis
Why we like it: Perplexity pulls from real-time, verifiable sources and organizes information clearly. Its Pro features support deep dives into questions, industries, and even customer conversations online.
Pro tip: Use “Focus” or “Deep” research modes to drill into strategic or complex topics with clear source links.

🔹 Try it for: Market and audience research, customer Q&A mining, technical briefs, content planning, competitive intel

🛠️ TL;DR: What to Use When

If you’re working on…

• ✍️ Writing and brainstorming: ChatGPT or Claude

• 📄 Long docs and summaries: Claude

• 🌎 Real-time research or trending topics: Gemini or Perplexity

• 📊 Slides, sheets, docs: Copilot

• 🔎 Sourcing and strategic research: Perplexity

• 💬 Sensitive or reflective writing: Claude

• 🛍️ Product or customer research: Perplexity or Gemini

Bottom line: Each model brings different strengths. Choosing the right one helps you work smarter and create faster.