AI: ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity: My New BFFs

You probably know ChatGPT, and maybe also Claude or Perplexity. Do these names ring a bell? They have become my everyday allies, and I’m going to explain why. But first, what is AI?

AI? What is it really?

Artificial intelligence, AI, refers to a set of technologies that allow machines to simulate intelligent behaviors. In other words, AI enables computers and software to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence.

The 3 key concepts to know

Machine Learning

This is the enhancement of AI knowledge using databases. The intelligence analyzes this data to build its own understanding based on it.

Natural Language Processing

AI understands and interprets human language, but it is also capable of generating text and thus 'speaking' in a 'natural' way.

Computer Vision

Intelligence can analyze an image or video and attempt to interpret it as a human would, but relying on its own Machine Learning.

Who are my new companions?

I’m mentioning them because, in my opinion, they are real assets to have at your disposal. Rarely does a day go by without me using one of these three AIs.

ChatGPT

My first instinct when I have a general question is to ask ChatGPT. Generally, it gives me a sufficiently broad answer. However, it’s important to keep in mind that it can make things up. It always tries to respond affirmatively, which sometimes leads it to say nonsense.

For example, if I have a question about cooking or a technical topic, I go through it. As soon as I have a question in a field I’m not familiar with, I use it for initial simplification. This allows me to narrow down the area and see if I can or want to go further.

I won’t hide the fact that it also helps me review the syntax and writing of my blog posts, without changing my intention, ideas, or message.

Claude

Claude, on the other hand, has become one of my work tools. I find it extremely effective for technical support. It gets straight to the point, rarely makes mistakes, and is a valuable aid. However, you need to know how to interact with it, guide it, and work in 'pair'. Otherwise, it can quickly loop in its responses. You need to steer it in the right direction.

Perplexity

Now this one is a little gem. After I’ve done my initial filtering with ChatGPT, I turn to Perplexity, which is less inventive and more factual. It cites the sources it relies on to formulate its answers.

It’s not designed to generate or create content, but it’s there to provide factual answers. For example, it helped me write my article about RTK. Of course, you should always verify its information and continue your analysis work.

Always accessible in a flash

As a strong advocate for dedicated applications, I don’t need to tell you that Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity are installed on my phone, as well as on my Mac.

What future with AI?

In conclusion, I’m quite amazed by the extent to which AI is growing and what it can bring.

In this article, I’m only speaking from my perspective, my usage, and my vision. I obviously do not address the possible downsides, the resource costs, or the darker sides of this universe.

I stay alert and try to keep up with this rapidly evolving world. I believe that AI could indeed replace certain jobs, including mine, to some extent. That’s why it’s important to remain vigilant. You need to know what you’re talking about and stay in control of these tools.

For my part, even though these are very useful tools for my productivity, they cannot (yet, at least) replace me. In a codebase or to address a global need, AI lacks an overall vision, coherence, and analysis—qualities I associate with professional experience. For specific technical problems, Claude or ChatGPT can get lost quite quickly and are not self-sufficient. They need guidance and to work in 'pair' to find the right solutions.