Let’s face it—AI is everywhere. Your inbox, your feed, your team meetings—everywhere. And if you’re running a business or heading up marketing, you’re probably wondering: “Which AI platforms are actually worth my time?” A totally fair question. With names like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and Perplexity flying around, it can feel like alphabet soup with a side of tech jargon.
So let’s cut through the noise. Below is a breakdown of the top AI platforms, what they actually do well, and how you can start using them without going down a 9-tab-deep rabbit hole of “productivity hacks.”
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
Best for: Content creation, ideation, sales scripts, customer support drafts, internal comms
Models: GPT-3.5 (free) and GPT-4 (paid via ChatGPT Plus, $20/month)
Why it’s useful:
This one’s the OG for most people. GPT-4 in particular is a strong all-arounder—great at writing blog posts, answering customer questions, summarizing reports, and helping brainstorm ideas. It even understands tone and brand voice pretty well if you feed it some context.
Cool features:
- Custom GPTs: You can now create a version of ChatGPT that’s trained on your content or brand guidelines.
- Memory: GPT-4 can remember preferences over time (e.g., your tone of voice or key messaging).
- File uploads: Drop in a PDF, spreadsheet, or deck, and ask questions about it.
Starter tip: Start by using GPT-3.5 for brainstorming campaign ideas or writing rough drafts of emails. Then, if it clicks, upgrade to GPT-4 and explore custom GPTs built for your niche.
Claude (Anthropic)
Best for: Long documents, nuanced writing, internal knowledge bases
Models: Claude 1 → Claude 2 → Claude 3 (just dropped in 2024, and it’s strong)
Why it’s useful:
Claude feels a little more… thoughtful. It’s less likely to hallucinate or give confident-but-wrong answers. That makes it great for deeper strategy work—like analyzing long meeting notes, customer feedback, or investor reports.
Cool features:
- Massive context window: You can drop in full transcripts, whitepapers, or messy Google Docs—Claude eats it up.
- Tone control: It’s great at writing in a more human, natural tone.
Privacy-first mindset: Anthropic leans hard into “trustworthy AI,” which appeals to more regulated industries.
Starter tip: Feed it your marketing deck, customer personas, or last quarter’s sales data. Ask for a SWOT summary or strategic insights. It’s eerie how good it is at distilling complexity.
Perplexity AI
Best for: Research, competitor analysis, fast fact-checking
Model: Uses OpenAI + others under the hood, depending on query
Why it’s useful:
Think of Perplexity as the lovechild of ChatGPT and Google. It’s built for pulling in real-time info with citations, which makes it super handy for market research, keeping tabs on competitors, or validating stats for content.
Cool features:
- Cited sources: Every answer includes links, so you can verify claims.
- Pro version: You can choose which model powers it (GPT-4, Claude, etc.).
- Search follow-ups: It keeps context across related queries.
Starter tip: Use Perplexity to get a quick read on industry trends, customer pain points, or who’s dominating a keyword space. It’s like having a research intern that works in seconds.
Google Gemini (formerly Bard)
Best for: Integrating with Google Workspace, real-time search, simple content help
Models: Gemini 1, Gemini Pro
Why it’s useful:
If you live in Gmail, Google Docs, and Sheets, Gemini is starting to show up everywhere. It’s not quite as powerful as GPT-4 or Claude in some ways, but the deep Workspace integration is a game-changer.
Cool features:
- In-Gmail writing help (like auto-drafting responses)
- Data analysis inside Sheets
- Search + AI summaries combined
Starter tip: Try it directly in Google Docs for summarizing long brainstorms or turning meeting notes into outlines. Or use it in Sheets to analyze data columns without formulas.
Grok (X / Twitter’s AI)
Best for: Social listening, meme-friendly tone, Elon stans
Model: Powered by xAI, trained on X data
Why it’s useful:
Grok is a bit of a wildcard. It’s designed for real-time responses and has a snarky tone baked in (literally, it’s meant to be humorous). It’s best for keeping tabs on Twitter conversations or drafting posts that match the platform’s vibe.
Cool features:
- Direct access inside X (Twitter)
- Real-time, trend-aware replies
- More irreverent tone out of the box
Starter tip: Use it to workshop Tweets or Threads quickly—especially if you’re trying to sound punchy and on-trend. Just double-check the facts; it’s more cheeky than factual.
Listen to our latest podcast of the MyBFF Business Leader’s Podcast on the MyBFF YouTube below:
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read) – What Should You Actually Do?
If you’re new to this AI thing, here’s your no-BS action plan:
- Pick one platform. Start with ChatGPT or Perplexity—they’re the most plug-and-play.
- Use it like a junior team member. Don’t ask it to “do your job.” Ask it to help you think faster. “Give me 3 ad headline ideas” or “Summarize this report in plain English.”
- Feed it your own stuff. The more context you give, the better the output. Upload docs. Share brand voice. Paste in customer feedback.
- Fact-check and edit. Always polish before publishing—these tools are smart but not perfect.
- Make it part of your workflow. Don’t “try AI” once and forget it. Bake it into your weekly to-dos—like idea generation on Mondays or campaign drafts on Thursdays.
Sources:
https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/manage-your-business/ai-small-business
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