Beyond ChatGPT: 8 AI Assistants to Know in 2025

ChatGPT is one of the best AI assistants, but a recent global outage left many users searching for alternatives. While it excels in content creation and basic communication, it’s not the only option. Many other AI assistants offer unique features and capabilities.

I’ll present you with the top ChatGPT alternatives, highlighting their strengths and what sets them apart. I tried various types of prompts, questions, math problems, and more to understand the capabilities of each AI assistant. I have covered one such prompt for a personal AI assistant and will compare it throughout the article.

• 1. Google Gemini
• 2. Deepseek
• 3. Microsoft Copilot
• 4. Perplexity
• 5. Claude
• 6. Alibaba’s Qwen
• 7. You.com
• 8. Pi.ai
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AI Assistant Comparison

I’ve created a table to give you an idea how ChatGPT compares with its competitors and which one is right for your needs.

1. Google Gemini

Google Gemini is an AI assistant designed to process and generate text, images, audio, video, and code. Unlike many AI assistants, which primarily focus on text-based interactions, Gemini is built with multimodality at its core, making it a versatile assistant for various applications.

I asked Gemini which local cuisine is the best in Rome, and also requested an image and location if possible. It provided a list with the location, images, and recommendations on which dishes to try and why locals recommend them. Both Gemini models (1.5 and 2.0) delivered great results.

However, Gemini 2.0 sometimes experiences hallucinations, but since it’s still in the experimental phase, this is understandable.

Why Choose Gemini?

• Gemini improves search by providing text, image, video, and audio results, making information retrieval more comprehensive.
• Gemini can access and process real-world data through Google Search, ensuring responses stay up-to-date and aligned with the latest search results.
• It assists in writing, language translation, music composition, and generating image descriptions for visually impaired users.
• Gemini works well with Google services like Search, Gmail, and Google Drive, offering a more connected user experience.
• With its efficient architecture, Gemini can run on different devices, including smartphones, making AI more accessible.

With its real-time search capabilities and deep integration into Google’s ecosystem, Gemini stands out as a strong alternative to ChatGPT, offering a more interactive and informed AI experience.

Try Gemini

2. Deepseek

DeepSeek R1 is an advanced AI model developed by the Chinese company DeepSeek. It is designed for tasks like code generation, natural language processing, and computer vision. What makes it different from ChatGPT is its focus on reasoning.

DeepSeek R1 uses a “chain-of-thought” approach to break down complex problems, making it ideal for tasks that need logical thinking and step-by-step analysis.

I tried both DeepSeek v3 and DeepThink (R1) models. While neither model was able to provide images, the R1 model offered in-depth information about various cuisines, including which to choose and which dishes are best, much like a human would.

I tested both models with many other prompts and found that they perform impressively in reasoning tasks. However, sometimes they refuse to answer or experience hallucinations, even after thinking for 20–30 seconds.

Why choose DeepSeek R1?

• Great for solving math and science problems that require logical analysis.
• Smaller, efficient models for various hardware setups, offering flexibility between performance and resource use.
• Available on platforms like Microsoft store, Perplexity, GitHub and Azure AI Foundry, making it easy for developers and researchers to use and improve.

While DeepSeek R1 is perfect for technical tasks and offers open access for customization, it doesn’t have the same user-friendly interface or wide usage as ChatGPT. It’s a great option if you need a more specialized AI assistant with problem-solving capabilities.

Test DeepSeek

3. Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant designed to improve productivity within the Microsoft ecosystem. Copilot is built to integrate seamlessly into Microsoft products like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, providing real-time assistance and content generation according to the user’s tasks.

Copilot is a strong alternative to ChatGPT. However, for personal assistant tasks, it didn’t perform as well as Gemini, as it was unable to provide images. That said, it did provide the location and recommended dishes to try. It also features a “think deeper” option, which offers better reasoning and more personalized suggestions.

Why Choose Microsoft Copilot?

• Copilot understands natural language, allowing users to interact via voice or text commands, simplifying complex tasks with ease.
• It automates repetitive tasks, such as summarizing emails, scheduling meetings, and generating reports, allowing users to focus on more critical work.
• Copilot helps in generating content for writing, presentations, and even code, providing suggestions and auto-completion to accelerate the creation process.
• Copilot’s deep integration with Microsoft apps like Teams and GitHub helps users stay connected and productive across different platforms within the Microsoft ecosystem.

With its targeted features and real-time support across Microsoft tools, Copilot is an ideal solution for those looking to streamline their workflow and improve productivity.

Try Microsoft Copilot

4. Perplexity

Perplexity AI is a unique AI search engine and conversational chatbot designed to deliver accurate, source-backed answers. Unlike other AI models, Perplexity is built with a focus on transparency, providing users with citations and sources for the information it presents.

I found Perplexity to be the best AI assistant among ChatGPT alternatives. It provided the address, phone number, rating, pricing, and recommendations on what food to try. Additionally, it offered a map and cuisine images along with its suggestions.

With real-time access to the web and various sources, it allows users to explore more details about a specific query, making it highly informative and reliable.

Why Choose Perplexity AI?

• Perplexity stands out by citing sources, allowing users to verify information from original web pages and research papers.
• It focuses on accuracy by minimizing hallucinations and relying on trusted sources.
• Combining search engine capabilities with chatbot interactivity, it lets users refine queries for better responses.
• Perplexity also offers modes like “Focus” for clear answers and “Creative” for more varied responses, giving users control over the style of replies.

Perplexity AI excels in research and information gathering by providing accurate answers backed by verifiable sources. While it offers a “Creative” mode, it isn’t as proficient in creative writing as ChatGPT and may struggle with complex reasoning tasks. It’s a great tool for those seeking transparency and reliable, fact-based information.

Try Perplexity AI

5. Claude

Claude is a large language model (LLM) created by Anthropic, a company focused on AI safety. It’s designed for tasks like conversations, text generation, coding, and more, with a strong focus on being safe and helpful.

Claude has a unique way of providing responses. While all the necessary information was presented in bullet points, it also provided the locations of all the restaurants in a map format. Although it couldn’t provide images of the restaurants, it did recommend which dishes to try. I also tested different reasoning prompts, and sometimes it gave different responses for the same question.

Additionally, if you provide it with a graph or map, it can help decode and extract information from that image, which is a great feature compared to many other AI assistants.

Why Choose Claude?

• Claude is trained with a “constitution” (a set of principles guiding its behavior). This leads to safer, more ethical responses, minimizing harmful or biased content.
• Anthropic prioritizes safety. Claude aims to be helpful and avoid generating toxic or misleading information.
• Claude can handle massive amounts of text, maintaining context in long conversations and complex tasks involving extensive text. This is a major plus for in-depth analysis and extended dialogues.  

Claude’s training data and methodology aren’t as openly detailed as some other models, and while it’s used in various applications, ChatGPT has a larger user base and more real-world use cases.

Claude is a great choice if you prioritize AI safety with its Constitutional AI approach, need help with long context tasks that involve large amounts of text, or are a developer seeking API integration for your applications.

Try Claude AI

6. Alibaba’s Qwen

Qwen 2.5 is the latest AI model from Alibaba Cloud, designed for advanced natural language understanding, reasoning, and code generation. Unlike standard text-based models, Qwen 2.5 has multimodal capabilities, meaning it can process text, images, and audio.

Qwen 2.5 Max is an improved version of previous models, with fewer hallucinations and more accurate responses. However, like many other chatbots, it cannot provide images and does not have web access. It excels at reasoning, giving suggestions, and offering advice.

However, I noticed some unusual behavior while using it. Like DeepSeek, it sometimes generates information but automatically deletes it if the topic is considered controversial or related to a specific country, such as China.

Why Choose Qwen?

• Unlike many AI models that only handle text, Qwen 2.5 can analyze images and audio, making it useful for tasks like image captioning and audio processing.
• Alibaba Cloud is integrating Qwen 2.5 into its services, making it a great fit for business applications.
• Benchmarks show Qwen 2.5 competes with top AI models, excelling in complex reasoning and code generation.
• Available through the Alibaba Cloud API, Qwen 2.5 is designed for integration into enterprise and AI applications.

While Qwen 2.5 offers strong performance, it lacks a widely used chat interface, open-source access, and a large community like ChatGPT. It’s a great choice for enterprises needing multimodal AI and seamless integration with Alibaba’s ecosystem.

Try Alibaba AI

7. You.com

You.com aims to be more than just a traditional search engine. It combines search functionality with AI apps and a conversational interface to provide a more interactive and personalized search experience.  

You.com usually takes a bit longer to respond compared to other AI assistants, but it provides clear and necessary information. It also allows you to train your own agent, which can act as a personalized assistant based on your instructions.

I used its creative mode for cuisine and restaurant suggestions, and it provided detailed information, locations, and images of the dishes. Overall, the responses were excellent.

Unique Features:

• You.com features a collection of agents (apps) that are essentially specialized AI tools for various tasks. These apps can help with things like writing, coding, image generation, summarization, and more. This is a core differentiator.  
• You.com allows you to interact with the search engine in a conversational manner, asking follow-up questions and refining your search through dialogue.  
• You.com tries to personalize your search experience based on your past interactions and preferences.  
• You.com highlights user privacy and claims not to track or sell personal information.  
• You.com has a built-in chat feature powered by large language models, allowing for more open-ended conversations and information retrieval.  

You.com offers a unique mix of search, AI tools, and chat, but its AI capabilities may not be as advanced as specialized models for tasks like coding or creative writing. While its search accuracy is improving, it may not always match Google or Bing for complex queries. Its identity is still evolving, sometimes feeling scattered.

However, You.com stands out for its integrated AI tools, strong privacy focus, and interactive, conversational search experience, making it a great choice for users who value privacy and AI-driven search.

Go to You.com

8. Pi.ai

Pi, developed by Inflection AI, is designed to be a “personal AI” focused on having helpful and supportive conversations. It’s less about answering factual questions (like a search engine) and more about engaging in dialogue, offering encouragement, brainstorming ideas, and generally being a companion.  

Why choose Pi.ai

• Pi’s core strength is its ability to hold engaging and supportive conversations. It’s designed to be a companion and offer a listening ear.
• Pi aims to learn about your interests and preferences to personalize the conversation and provide more relevant support.
• While all LLMs are trained on vast amounts of text, Pi’s training seems to have a specific based on understanding and responding to emotions.

Pi differs from ChatGPT by focusing on conversational support and companionship rather than general-purpose tasks like text generation or coding. It has a distinct personality, making interactions feel more personal, but it lacks factual accuracy, task completion abilities, and an extensive knowledge base.

While ChatGPT is designed for diverse interactions, Pi excels in providing emotional support, personalized conversations, and engaging discussions, making it ideal for users seeking a more empathetic AI companion.

Try PI AI

Conclusion

While ChatGPT remains one of the most popular AI assistants, several strong alternatives offer unique capabilities. Google Gemini excels in multimodal interactions, DeepSeek R1 stands out for logical reasoning, and Microsoft Copilot integrates seamlessly with productivity tools.

Perplexity AI is ideal for research with source-backed responses, while Claude prioritizes safety and long-context retention. Alibaba’s Qwen 2.5 provides multimodal support for enterprises, and You.com combines AI-powered search with customization options.

Ultimately, the best AI assistant depends on your specific needs. With AI evolving rapidly, exploring different options help you find the most suitable tool for your workflow.