My AI assistant has also created a podcast episode for the following article. If you prefer listening to reading, you can listen to the podcast via the following link (ATTENTION: Podcast is created exclusively by AI, no guarantee for accuracy).
ChatGPT is constantly gaining new users. More and more people are using AI technologies such as ChatGPT to increase their professional and private efficiency. At the same time, however, knowledge about data protection in connection with the use of AI tools is also increasing. More and more employees are asking themselves whether the use of ChatGPT is even appropriate in their company and what alternatives there are. In the following article, I will show you some alternatives to ChatGPT. It should be noted that, with the exception of SwissGPT from AlpineAI, some of the data from alternative AI tools is also stored on American servers and the providers use the user input to further develop their AI systems. However, it is still worth taking a look at the alternatives presented, as some of them also have other features.
To repeat
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an advanced AI chatbot based on the groundbreaking technology of the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT). ChatGPT can be used to conduct natural language conversations in which the chatbot can generate contextual and coherent responses based on its extensive training data set and language model. The underlying AI technology enables ChatGPT to simulate human-like interactions and respond to various requests and instructions in real time. This technology is based on machine learning and uses neural networks to understand language patterns and contexts and generate relevant answers based on this. Through continuous training and optimization, ChatGPT is constantly improving its performance and accuracy to provide an impressive communication experience.
You can find out more about ChatGPT in one of my last posts.
How does ChatGPT work?
ChatGPT is, as explained above, AI model developed to have human-like conversations with humans. It is based on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture from OpenAI. GPT works by analyzing large amounts of text data and recognizing patterns. It learns by using these patterns to make predictions about the next word or phrase in a text.
ChatGPT uses its ability to understand natural language to analyze the user’s input and generate an appropriate response based on it. It takes into account the context of the previous messages and attempts to provide a meaningful and relevant response. ChatGPT is available free of charge to all interested parties via the OpenAI website.
What are the main features of ChatGPT?
As mentioned above, ChatGPT not only answers simple questions, but can also generate texts and other media content for us. Below are the most important functions that the chatbot already has today.
Text generation: ChatGPT can generate text in a human-like manner. This enables the model to respond to user input in natural language.
Question-answer system: When you ask ChatGPT a question, it tries to give the most appropriate answer based on its training.
Context understanding: ChatGPT can understand the context of a dialog and generate responses based on this. The technology takes into account previous messages in a conversation to provide contextualized answers.
Text translation: Although it was not primarily designed as a translation tool, ChatGPT can translate texts between different languages.
Text summary: ChatGPT can convert long text passages into shorter, summarized forms.
Idea generation: ChatGPT can provide suggestions or ideas on a given topic.
Code generation and help: ChatGPT can also answer simple programming questions and generate code examples.
Entertainment: ChatGPT can tell stories, make jokes and interact in general conversations.
What alternatives are there to ChatGPT?
The number of available alternatives is almost unlimited. New AI tools are launched on the market every week that are similar to ChatGPT, not only in their design but also in the way they work. It is practically impossible to keep an overview of all available tools, and it is not essential to know all of them. Nevertheless, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with two or three alternatives to ChatGPT. These alternatives usually offer special additional functions, use different language models or can serve as a replacement if ChatGPT is not available.
Below I present a short list of alternatives to ChatGPT that I think deserve a special mention:
- SwissGPT
- Gemini
- Perplexity
- Claude
- You
- Pi
SwissGPT from AlpineAI
With its SwissGPT solution, the Swiss AI startup AlpineAI offers a truly secure alternative to ChatGPT and other tools. SwissGPT currently uses the open source language model Llama 3 and is hosted on Swiss servers. In principle, SwissGPT works independently of the language model. So you could say that the tool is LLM-independent. More importantly, however, it can even be hosted on-premise.
Unlike all other tools, SwissGPT does not offer a free version.
All further information and prices from SwissGPT can be found on the AlpineAI website.
Gemini from Google
Gemini is Google’s answer to ChatGPT. I notice the following 3 points in particular when using Gemini:
- The AI tool usually offers significantly longer and more comprehensive answers. It explains its answer very comprehensively in most cases.
- If desired, users can have the answer from Gemini checked directly by Google. This makes it possible to recognize which parts of the answer have a fixed source and which parts of the answer may have been invented.
- In terms of data protection and security, Gemini offers no clear differences to ChatGPT. Here too, for example, user input is used for further training purposes.
If you would like to test Google’s Gemini, you can register via this link and use the free version. The Pro version then costs around EUR 20 per month.
Perplexity
In my opinion, perplexity is always underestimated. The AI tool usually provides very good answers at high speed. In addition, Perplexity always displays its sources. Other tools only do this in a paid version.
Another important feature of Perplexity is the follow-up questions and hints that almost always appear at the end of the answer.
The Pro version of Perplexity costs around EUR 20, but it should be noted that users of the free version can also submit 5 Pro requests per day. Incidentally, I discussed this and other tips on perplexity with Claudia Bünte in our joint podcast episode on AI tools.
It’s best to try Perplexity out for yourself.
Claude
Claude uses the Sonnet language model from Anthropic. Apart from the fact that it uses a different language model to ChatGPT, the two tools seem very similar at first glance. However, if you use Claude in greater depth, you will notice a number of new or different functions. Probably the most important function is the creation of simple small apps. Claude can create small apps and mochups with the help of the appropriate prompts. The apps only have a very limited range of functions and users of the free version in particular quickly reach the limits of the tool. Nevertheless, it was a very exciting experience and a function that may be expanded in the future.
The developers of Claude and Sonnet also say that they are increasingly trying to train their language model to have a personality. This is not so easy, because it still has to be clear that Claude is just an artificial intelligence and, despite his own personality, users have to realize that they are chatting with a piece of software. However, it is noticeable that Claude adds more personal sentences when writing his answers than ChatGPT, for example.
This link will take you directly to Claude. Like most other tools, Claude is initially free and the Pro version then costs around EUR 20.
You.com
I’ve been using You.com myself for six months for requests that I could actually also make to ChatGPT. The difference with You.com, however, is the way the responses to my requests are personalized. Users can adapt You.com very precisely to their own personality and customize the tool in advance with their own preferences and interfaces. In principle, You.com offers its users a free version. However, if you want to use the personalizations, you will quickly end up in the paid Pro version.
As a big fan of WhatsApp chats, I was most impressed that You is not only available via web app and mobile app, but I can also chat with You via WhatsApp or Telegram and ask questions. This function once again underlines the fact that You wants to be a personal assistant who is also available around the clock via various channels.
Here you can test You.com for free. A Pro license costs about EUR 20.
Pi
Pi comes from the American start-up Inflection AI. Like ChatGPT, Pi is basically an AI assistant designed to increase the efficiency of its users by taking on tasks, answering general questions or generating texts. Compared to the other ChatGPT alternatives, however, Pi, together with You, positions itself most strongly as a personal or individual assistant. The communication with Pi sounds friendly and familiar. Over time, Pi gets to know its users better, creates a user profile, so to speak, and uses the information from the profile for individual and personalized communication.
You can test Pi yourself via this link.
What other AI tools and technologies are there?
I have created an AI technology overview. It offers all interested parties an insight into almost 30 possible generative AI tools. All AI technologies and tools have been tested by myself and described for you.
Any further questions?
Of course, you can also ask me your questions directly and I will be happy to provide you with specific AI tools for your use case. I am always happy to receive your messages, preferably by WhatsApp message or e-mail.
This article is also available as a podcast episode
Attention! The podcast was created entirely by my AI-Assistant based on my contribution – no guarantee for incorrect content.
*I used SwissGPT’s AI technology to optimize the language of this article.
