⭐ Your AI Field Guide

This is the One Minute Wonder — get useful tools, frameworks, and ideas summarized in 60 seconds (give or take).

Today, we’re sharing what we see on the playing field of AI models, diving into the Big Three—OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google—alongside standout tools like Grok and Perplexity that are making waves in their own right.

Why It Matters: Let’s be real—when most of us first dip our toes into the world of AI, we start with ChatGPT. It’s the first friend at the party. But here’s the thing: as you explore what generative AI can do for your business—whether it’s coding, marketing, or sales—it’s worth knowing your options.

Go deeper below (1 min read time)

OpenAI’s ChatGPT

• Strengths: ChatGPT remains a solid all-rounder. Its GPT-4 version excels at general knowledge and creative brainstorming, delivering quick, reliable insights (we use it to come up with some taglines).

• Challenges: Recent changes to the o1 model have us scratching our heads. Replies are shorter, less detailed, and often rely on placeholders instead of full answers. And locking its better features behind a $200 paywall? Ouch. GPT is still great, but competition is breathing down its neck.

Anthropic’s Claude

• Strengths: Claude is a coder’s dream. It produces near-flawless code and delivers nuanced, human-like summaries. Whether you’re debugging or condensing a dense PDF, it gets the job done with finesse.

• Challenges: While it’s a coding rockstar, Claude isn’t as versatile as GPT for broader tasks. If coding and logic are your thing, Claude shines; if not, it might feel limited.

Google’s Gemini

• Strengths: Gemini is Google’s ambitious answer to OpenAI and Anthropic. Dubbed an “everything machine,” it balances power and creativity, performing better than GPT-4 on 30 out of 32 benchmarks. It’s polished and versatile, making it a strong middle ground between Claude’s coding prowess and GPT’s general knowledge.

• Challenges: Despite its strengths, Gemini hasn’t revolutionized the field. Think of it as a reliable all-rounder rather than a disruptive innovator. That said, never underestimate Google—they have the resources to surprise us in 2025.

X’s Grok

• Strengths: Grok, powered by the Flux.1 image generator, stands out for creating cinematic, natural images. If you want to create stunning, subtle photorealistic visuals or artsy photography, Grok’s got you covered.

• Challenges: While excellent at capturing mood and atmosphere, Grok may not match the vibrant detail and intricacy of models like DALL·E 3 from GPT. It shines in its niche but isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for all creative needs.

Perplexity

• Strengths: Perplexity is our go-to AI tool for research. It combines conversational AI with search engine capabilities, giving you concise answers and linking directly to reliable sources. It’s perfect for digging deeper into topics without sifting through endless search results. In a way it is replacing Google for us.

• Challenges: While great for research, it doesn’t have the creative flair of models like GPT or Claude. It’s a powerhouse for fact-finding but we find it less suited for generating long-form content or brainstorming.

Final Thoughts

The AI landscape is dynamic, with the Big Three leading the pack and other powerful tools pushing boundaries. The smartest approach? Use them together. ChatGPT remains a go-to for creativity, Claude is a standout for coding, and Gemini offers a well-rounded balance. For visual projects, Grok creates stunning cinematic images, while Perplexity is the go-to for research and fact-finding.

For those who want to build AI app on a tighter budget, DeepSeek and Sky-T1 are proving that innovation doesn’t always come with a hefty price tag—perfect for building apps or tackling logic-heavy tasks. Together, these tools help you stay ahead in the AI game, whatever your goals may be.

Interested to learn more? See how the big 3 players do in writing, making PowerPoints, and processing multimodal.