Meet the AI assistants is the subject of today’s post. If you’ve been following along with my AI series, you’re starting to see what these tools can do. But then you go to actually try one and — bam — you’re staring at a lineup of names: ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Claude. Which one do you pick? Are they all the same? Do they all cost money?

Those are exactly the questions I get at seminars, so today let me play matchmaker and introduce you to the big four. Hang with me, and by the end you’ll know which one makes sense for you.

“The best AI assistant is the one you’ll actually use — and the good news is, every one of them is free to try.”

First, What IS an AI Assistant?

In plain English, an AI assistant is a program you talk to in everyday language — you type (or speak) a question or a request, and it answers or does a task for you. Think of it as a very well-read helper who’s available around the clock. That’s the whole idea. The four below are just different companies’ versions of that same helper, each with its own personality and its own strong suit.

And here’s the good news I’ll repeat: all four have a free version. You do not have to pay a dime to try any of them.

ChatGPT — The Famous One

ChatGPT, made by a company called OpenAI, is the one that started the whole craze, and it’s still the most popular. It’s a terrific all-rounder — writing, answering questions, brainstorming ideas, explaining things, even making pictures.

The free version is generous and plenty for most folks. If you find yourself using it a lot, there’s a paid plan (around $20 a month) that removes the limits and adds extras. You’ll find it at chatgpt.com or by grabbing the free “ChatGPT” app on your phone or tablet.

Best for: the person who just wants the popular, do-a-bit-of-everything assistant.

Copilot — The One Already on Your Computer

Here’s the one a lot of my readers overlook: if you’re running Windows 11, Microsoft’s Copilot is already built into your computer. It sits right there on your taskbar, waiting. (And there’s a free Copilot app for Windows 10 as well.)

Copilot is free to use. The paid version, called Microsoft 365 Copilot, adds AI help right inside Word, Excel, and Outlook — handy if you live in those programs, but not something the average person needs. Because it’s already on your machine, Copilot is often the easiest place to start. No new account, no downloads — just click and ask.

Best for: Windows users who want to dip a toe in without installing anything new.

Gemini — The Google One

Gemini is Google’s assistant, and it’s free with the Google account you probably already have. If you use an Android phone, Gemini is built right in — it’s replaced the old “Google Assistant,” so a “Hey Google” gets you talking to it hands-free. It also plays nicely with Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Search.

Like the others, there’s a free version and paid plans for heavy users.

Best for: the Android phone owner or the person who lives in Gmail and Google’s other tools.

Claude — The Wordsmith

Claude, made by a company called Anthropic, has quietly earned a reputation as the best writer of the bunch. It tends to sound natural and thoughtful, and it’s especially good at working with long documents — reading them, summarizing them, and writing in a particular voice. (Full disclosure for my regular readers: it’s a big help behind the scenes here at the keyboard.)

There’s a free version, and a paid plan at around $20 a month if you use it heavily. You’ll find it at claude.ai or in the free “Claude” app.

Best for: anyone who cares about good writing, or who wants help making sense of long documents.

So Which One Should You Pick?

Here’s my plain-English advice. Don’t agonize over it — you really can’t make a wrong choice, and switching later costs you nothing.

If you want the easiest start and you’re on Windows, open Copilot — it’s already there. If you want the most popular all-rounder, go with ChatGPT. If you’re an Android or Gmail person, Gemini fits right into your world. And if good writing is what you’re after, give Claude a try.

Honestly? The best thing you can do is pick two that caught your eye, ask each of them the same question, and see whose answer you like better. Because they’re all free to try, that little experiment costs you nothing but a few minutes — and it’ll teach you more than any article can.

Don’t Be Scared — Just Say Hello

Same message I always leave you with: there’s nothing to be afraid of here. These are just helpers waiting for you to ask them something. Start with a question you already know the answer to, so you can judge how they do. You’ll get the hang of it faster than you think.

Do me a favor and forward this to a friend who’s been curious about AI but didn’t know where to begin — this is the perfect place to start.

As always, if you get stuck or have questions, reach out. Helping you feel comfortable with technology is what we do here at Keystone Computer Concepts.

Until next time — stay safe out there!

— John