Stop Using One AI for Everything: 5 Emerging AIs and What Each One Is Actually Good At

Source: Dev.to

Overview

For a long time, I treated AI like a one‑size‑fits‑all solution.

• Need to write? ChatGPT.
• Need to think? ChatGPT.
• Need to check something? Still ChatGPT.

It worked — until it didn’t.

Over time, I realized the problem wasn’t the AI.
It was how I was using it.

Different AIs are built with different goals, personalities, and strengths. Expecting one AI to do everything well is like expecting one app to replace your browser, email, notes, and calendar at the same time.

So instead of asking “Which AI is the best?”, the better question is:

Which AI is best for this specific job?

Here are 5 emerging (and increasingly popular) AIs, what they’re actually good at, and when you shouldn’t use them.

ChatGPT — The Best All‑Rounder (But Not the Best at Everything)

Where ChatGPT shines

• Clear explanations and reasoning
• Writing, planning, summarizing
• Analyzing documents and data
• Turning vague thoughts into structured ideas

I personally use ChatGPT when I need to think clearly, not just generate text. In fact, I’ve had moments where it caught logical gaps in my own code before I even noticed them — something I wrote about in AI Just Fixed My Code Before I Even Realized It Was Wrong — Here’s How.

Where it falls short

• Limited real‑time awareness by default
• Can sound generic if you rely on it too much
• Not very opinionated

Best use cases

• Personal productivity
• Learning new topics
• Coding help
• Planning and analysis

ChatGPT is great — just don’t expect it to understand what’s happening right now on the internet.
You can try it directly at .

Grok — The AI That Understands What’s Happening Right Now

Where Grok shines

• Real‑time awareness through X (Twitter)
• Understanding trends, debates, and public sentiment
• More direct, sometimes blunt responses

If you’ve ever wondered “Why is everyone suddenly angry about this?”, Grok is surprisingly good at answering that.

Where it falls short

• Weak at structured tasks
• Not ideal for long documents
• Requires X Premium

Best use cases

• Trend analysis
• Cultural and social commentary
• Understanding public opinion

Grok isn’t trying to help you write reports; it’s trying to help you understand the internet’s mood.
Learn more at .

Gemini — The AI That Lives Inside Google’s World

Where Gemini shines

• Strong factual answers
• Integration with Google Docs, Gmail, and Sheets
• Good at summarizing web‑based information

When I need something closer to “search, but smarter”, Gemini often gives cleaner answers than scrolling through search results.

Where it falls short

• Less creative
• Very “safe” responses
• Not much personality

Best use cases

• Research
• Fact‑checking
• Work documents inside Google Workspace

If your work already lives in Google’s ecosystem, Gemini fits naturally. Explore it at .

Claude — The AI That Feels the Most Thoughtful

Where Claude shines

• Long‑context understanding
• Thoughtful explanations
• Clear and structured writing

When you give it long documents or complex questions, its responses often feel calmer and more nuanced.

Where it falls short

• Fewer advanced tools
• Less ecosystem integration
• More conservative answers

Best use cases

• Reading and summarizing long texts
• Writing reflective or strategic content
• Ethical or complex reasoning

Claude feels less like a tool and more like a thinking partner. Try it at .

Perplexity — The AI That Replaced My “Quick Google Searches”

Where Perplexity shines

• Direct answers with sources
• Real‑time web grounding
• Very fast research

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