** Note: Remember this is an ever changing space. Visit URLs for the latest access information.
Consumer friendly AI Platforms:
Tool | Capabilities & thoughts | Recommendations |
OpenAI ChatGPT | Free
For individuals just getting started with ChatGPT
Assistance with writing, problem solving and more
Access to GPT-4o mini
Limited access to GPT-4o
Limited access to data analysis, file uploads, vision, web browsing, and custom GPTs
$0
/ month | You can absolutely just get started with this, but limits will apply to its use - and you will not be able to turn off model training functionality. The preferred option is OpenAI ChatGPT Pro or Enterprise if you can afford it. Visit: https://openai.com/chatgpt/pricing/ |
OpenAI ChatGPT Pro | Plus
For individuals looking to amplify their productivity
Early access to new features
Access to GPT-4, GPT-4o, GPT-4o mini
Up to 5x more messages for GPT-4o
Access to data analysis, file uploads, vision, and web browsing
DALL·E image generation
Create and use custom GPTs
$20 USD / month (Approx $32) | If you can afford 1 subscription; this is the one to get.
They are the market leader. Voice prompt technology is built in.
There is a native app for MacOS, iOS and Android. A native app has not yet been released on Windows 11 or Chromebook yet.
** You also get Access to the GPT Global Marketplace which includes 100’s if not Thousands of Custom Bots people have built out with their own data.
In addition to this you can build and share your own GPT’s to leverage your own data and intent and share those with other people. This is a powerful differentiator.
All devices can access it via a browser however, and Chromebook has an awesome built in dictation capability you can engage with prompts and see outputs. See: https://openai.com/chatgpt/pricing/ |
Microsoft Bing CoPilot | Microsoft Bing.com provides a free Co-Pilot access, that includes native browser voice prompting & the ability to upload images to have them described. There are usage limits if you push it hard, but it is fully connected to the internet and thus is a good source to gather information and data. It also provides prompt guides to explore topics and concepts. | A great free place to prompt the internet for free - with good accessibility tools.
A recommended tab to bookmark.
https://www.bing.com |
Microsoft O365 CoPilot | Copilot for Microsoft 365 is an AI-powered productivity tool that integrates seamlessly with your everyday Microsoft 365 apps. Here’s what it offers:
Enhanced Writing and Summarisation:
Quickly create drafts in Word for any topic.
Transform lengthy email conversations into concise summaries in Outlook for Windows.
Land clear and polished presentations faster.
Cross-Application Intelligence:
Get up to speed more efficiently by leveraging insights across all your data.
Receive helpful coaching tips for impactful customer communications.
Write, edit, and summarize proposals and project plans.
Data Exploration and Visualization:
Analyze and explore data to create powerful visualizations and project trackers.
Scan your entire universe of data, including emails, chats, documents, and the web.
Meeting Engagement and Catch-Up:
Be more engaged during meetings.
Summarize long email threads and draft suggested replies.
Enterprise-Grade Security and Privacy:
Enjoy peace of mind with robust security, compliance, and responsible AI.
Eligibility Prerequisites:
For individuals using Copilot Pro features in Microsoft 365 web apps, a Copilot Pro subscription is required.
For business and enterprise users, licensing for Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Business Standard, Business Premium, Microsoft 365 E3, E5, F1, F3, or Office 365 E1, E3, or E5 is necessary12.
Price: $29 USD a month ($44 AUD) & you need an O365 License to use it which is about $10 AUD a month. | If you are heavily in the Microsoft Ecosystem this is a good option - but it is not the most affordable option.
If I had a choice between CoPilot and O365 for pure AI work - I would choose OpenAI because it includes GPT access and the GPT marketplace which Microsoft has not included.
The advantages of integration in your MS Office Suite is only useful if you work solely in MS products - and for simplicity and usability - I’d use another combination of Platforms that are cheaper and more effective.
In my opinion Microsoft O365 on Mac is not as good as PC - therefore that is an issue - and using a PC will introduce other complexities like Virus software, Software Updates etc.
For a person needing focus and control over their AI journey I highly recommend a Google Chromebook due to the simplicity - and low cost. This integrates seamlessly with Android.
If you really want to step up your experience then a MacBook Air/Pro is a desirable option which has also just done a deal with OpenAI, so you’ll likely see nice integrations the apple Ecosystem.
For some users, an IPad may also be a good interface depending on abilities, but workflow, ergonomics and switching in my opinion are inferior.
See https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/microsoft-365/business/copilot-for-microsoft-365 |
Google Gemini | Gemini
$0
AUD/month
Access to 1.5 Flash model
Help with writing, planning, learning and more
Integrated with Google apps that you already know and love | Free tools you can leverage that’s pre-integrated into Google Workspace.
Feel free to use: https://gemini.google.com/advanced |
Google Gemini Advanced | New With 1.5 Pro, our next-generation model with a 1 M token context window.
New Upload Google Docs, PDFs and more for summaries, answers and feedback.
New Upload your spreadsheets for faster data cleaning, charts and insights.
Priority access to new and exclusive features.
Edit and run Python code directly in Gemini Advanced.
2 TB of storage from Google One.
Gemini in Gmail, Docs and more (available in selected languages).
Gemini Advanced
$32.99
AUD/month
$0 AUD for the first month | Google Gemini leverages cutting-edge AI technology, benefiting from Google’s extensive research in machine learning and natural language processing. This ensures high-quality, state-of-the-art performance in generating text, images, and other content.
Gemini is well-integrated with the broader Google ecosystem, including Google Cloud, Google Workspace, and other Google services. This integration allows for seamless data flow and enhanced functionality across different platforms and tools.
But like CoPilot, it ties you to a technology. Model choice will be personal preference, but at the moment OpenAI has an edge both in their models, performance, and GPT capabilities. They are also now tied to Microsoft and Apple. Check out: https://gemini.google.com/advanced |
Anthropic Claude Free | Anthropic has launched Claude 3.5 Sonnet, the first in its Claude 3.5 model family, which sets new industry standards for intelligence, speed, and cost.
Available for free on Claude.ai and the Claude iOS app, and accessible via Anthropic API, Amazon Bedrock, and Google Cloud's Vertex AI, it outperforms previous models in various evaluations, including graduate-level reasoning and coding proficiency.
The model is twice as fast as Claude 3 Opus, making it ideal for complex tasks like customer support and workflow orchestration.
It also excels in visual reasoning tasks and can transcribe text from imperfect images, benefiting sectors like retail and logistics.
A new feature, Artifacts, allows users to interact dynamically with Claude's outputs, enhancing collaboration.
Despite its advancements, Claude 3.5 Sonnet maintains rigorous safety and privacy standards, having undergone extensive external testing.
Anthropic plans to release more models in the Claude 3.5 family and is developing new features to support enterprise applications. Users are encouraged to provide feedback to help shape future developments.
Free Tier includes:
Talk to Claude on the web, IOS and Android
Ask about images and documents
Access to 3.5 Sonnet version | Very credible tool to put in the toolbox with some good powerful features. You can’t beat free:
https://www.anthropic.com/pricing |
Anthropic Claude Pro | Pro
Everything in Free
Use Claude 3 Opus and Haiku
Higher usage limits versus Free
Create Projects to work with Claude around a set of docs, code, or files
Priority bandwidth and availability
Early access to new features
$20 USD / month | Credible models that excel in certain use cases. IMO - not quite as good as OpenAI if you have to choose, but one to consider putting in the tool belt. |
xAI Grok | Elon Musk has recently announced the activation of what he claims to be the world's most powerful AI training cluster, called the Memphis Supercluster.
This cluster, a collaboration between xAI, X (formerly Twitter), and Nvidia, is located in Memphis, Tennessee.
It features 100,000 liquid-cooled Nvidia H100 GPUs connected with a single RDMA (remote direct memory access) fabric. This setup is intended to train xAI's Grok 3, which Musk aims to make the world's most powerful AI by every metric by December 2024.
Grok is currently offered integrated in live with x.com and costs $11.25 a month. | If you want real time AI access to everything happening in the world, Grok has instant access to all tweets, 24x7.
At the moment is is rudimentary, and fun - but some serious capability is coming.
X is a great platform if you want to engage with people around the world too.
You may wish to bundle X in with your social media ambitions and new found AI creation capabilities.
Visit x.com |
Meta Llama | Meta is building Llama AI into all of it’s Facebook products. You’ll notice features like ‘help me write,’ or ‘fix grammar’ or ‘auto complete’ or ‘shorter’, ‘longer’, ‘funny’ and AI based summaries being built into communications in Meta which can help you engage at speed. This feature is free.
Not for consumer users - but you can also load Llama onto computers now and run your own personal models on your machine.
It is free, but you need a powerful machine and technical skill to set it up. Maybe a project for one day. | Meta is a great platform for groups, and building business presences. Anyone can set up a business on Facebook - and I recommend it (!)
Shifting from being a consumer to being a creator is a rewarding experience and with native AI tools built in - this could be an interesting pathway to explore:
Visit: facebook.com
|
Perplexity Free | Perplexity.ai offers a variety of AI-driven services and tools designed to enhance user experience through advanced natural language processing capabilities.
Key offerings include:
AI-Powered Search Engine: Perplexity.ai provides a sophisticated search engine that leverages AI to deliver precise and contextually relevant search results. Users can input queries in natural language and receive comprehensive answers, summaries, and relevant links.
Conversational AI: The platform offers interactive conversational AI capabilities, allowing users to engage in a dialogue with the AI to refine their searches, ask follow-up questions, and obtain more detailed information on various topics.
Research and Information Retrieval: Perplexity.ai excels in retrieving and summarising information from vast datasets, making it a valuable tool for researchers, students, and professionals seeking in-depth knowledge on specific subjects.
User-Friendly Interface: The platform features an intuitive and user-friendly interface, ensuring that users can easily navigate and utilize its features without needing extensive technical knowledge.
Integration Capabilities: Perplexity.ai can integrate with other applications and platforms, allowing businesses to incorporate its advanced search and conversational AI functionalities into their existing workflows and systems.
Customizable Solutions: The platform offers customizable solutions to cater to specific industry needs, providing tailored AI-driven tools and services to enhance productivity and efficiency.
Overall, Perplexity.ai aims to simplify the process of finding and understanding information, offering powerful AI tools to assist users in various domains, from academic research to everyday information needs.
In the Free Version you get:
Unlimited quick searches
5 Pro searches per day
Standard Perplexity AI Model optimised for speed and quality
Create a profile to personalise your answers | |
Perplexity Pro | Professional
Unlock the full capabilities of Perplexity and enjoy new perks as they are added.
$20 USD Monthly
Features:
Unlimited Quick searches
600 Pro searches per day
Select your preferred AI Model. Choose from GPT-4o, Claude-3, Sonar Large (LLama 3.1), and more
Upload and analyze unlimited files
Visualize up to 50 answers a day using Playground AI, DALL-E, SDXL, and more
Get $5/month in API credits | The Free version of this does a lot, and there’s 5 free searches a day.
I feel there are a bunch of options to search the web but this has great academic references if that’s required.
It’s also important to note that OpenAI is doing something similar with ChatGPT Search coming soon.
This is another powerful tool to consider.
perplexity.com |
Poe (Free) | Poe is a multi-platform AI service that allows users to ask questions, receive instant answers, and engage in conversations with various AI-powered bots.
Accessible on iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, and the web, Poe integrates AI models from multiple sources, each optimized for different tasks and perspectives.
The platform supports models such as ChatGPT, GPT-4, DALL-E 3, Claude 3.5, Stable Diffusion, PaLM, Gemini, Llama, and many more, including millions of community-created bots.
Poe emphasizes that while its AI can be highly useful, it is not perfect and may have limitations, such as outdated knowledge or occasional inaccuracies.
The platform is committed to improving these issues as AI research progresses. Poe aims to help users explore and benefit from new AI technologies as they emerge.
To experience Poe, users can visit poe.com or download the app on their preferred device.
There are hundreds of bots designed to do particular tasks, and you can create your own bots. | An interesting resource to find bots trained on niche topics.
Also a place to monetise your own bots - on the POE network should you pursue a career in AI prompt engineering!
Check it out at poe.com |
POE (subscription) | Enjoy exclusive access to GPT-4-Turbo and Claude-3-Opus
Use your compute points on the bots you want, without daily messaging limits
Gain far more capacity than free users with 1,000,000 compute points per month - at current rates, send up to 50,000 messages to Assistant, 3,000 to GPT-4-Turbo, or 1,000 to Claude-2-100k
Benefit from faster responses with popular bots
$29.90 AUD / month | For power users.
Noticing a ‘trend’?- Access is ~$30 a month AUD. |