How to find AI tools that work for you
A closer look at the top 6 multi-modal AI assistants
Total reading time around 5 minutes.
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🔮AI News This Week
I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the number of AI products available and I can’t find the time to try many.
I thought you might feel the same way, so I thought it would be helpful to compare the most popular, multi-functional tools.
Choosing the Right Generative AI Tool
The rise of large language models and generative AI has led to an explosion of powerful AI assistants and tools.
While just a year ago there were only a handful of consumer-facing options, today there are hundreds of apps, websites, and services powered by cutting-edge artificial intelligence.
Many of the latest AI tools are multi-modal, meaning they can understand and generate different data types like text, images, audio, and more.
This versatility allows for a wide range of real-world applications across creative tasks, analysis, research, and nearly any industry.
As you explore incorporating AI into your workflows and daily lives, here's a look at some of the major multi-modal players and what to consider when choosing one.
The major multi-modal players
ChatGPT
OpenAI’s ChatGPT is one of the most popular and widely available AI assistants.
Features:
Availability: Widely available, including in the U.S. and many other countries
Functionality: Strong in text generation and conversation, Code Interpreter for complex analysis
Multi-modal Features: Text & voice (free plan); images & files (Plus)
Web Search with URL: Yes (Plus)
Mobile Apps: Available on iOS and Android
Quality of Output: Strong writing abilities
Try ChatGPT here.
Gemini (Google)
Availability: Global availability with restrictions in some regions
Functionality: Simplifies complex topics well
Multi-modal Features: Accepts text & images (free); lacks file upload capability
Web Search with URL: Yes
Mobile Apps: Limited availability
Quality of Output: Known for detailed explanations
Try Gemini here.
Copilot (Microsoft)
Availability: Available in 160 regions
Functionality: Runs on GPT-4 & DALL•E 3, excels at coding, text generation
Multi-modal Features: Similar to ChatGPT, accepts text, image & file uploads (free)
Web Search with URL: Yes
Mobile Apps: iOS & Android apps
Quality of Output: Simplifies complex topics, DALL•E 3 integrated with Designer
Try Copilot here.
Claude 3 (Anthropic)
Availability: Widely available in approximately 160 countries & regions
Functionality: Designed to emulate more human-like responses; impressive language understanding
Multi-modal Features: Accepts multiple files and image uploads (free)
Web Search with URL: No
Mobile Apps: Available as iOS app
Quality of Output: Exceptional in generating creative and insightful text
Try Claude here.
Meta AI
Availability: Varies, with strong presence in markets where Facebook and related services are available
Functionality: Built with Llama 3 with strengths in handling large datasets
Multi-modal Features: Upload & generate images, no file uploads
Web Search with URL: Yes
Mobile Apps: No standalone mobile app; available in Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger
Quality of Output: High, especially in tasks involving image and text generation
I wrote about Meta AI in a previous issue, here.
Try Meta AI here.
Perplexity
Availability: Widely available, especially in English-speaking countries
Functionality: Specializes in educational and informational content, browser extension (free)
Multi-modal Features: Upload images & files (Pro), generates images (Pro)
Web Search with URL: Yes
Mobile Apps: iOS & Android apps
Quality of Output: Known for clear, concise, and informative content
I use Perplexity frequently and I have a paid subscription plan.
I love the visual results, cited sources, and web search capabilities. I use the Perplexity browser extension (free) to summarize websites, articles, etc.
I wrote about it extensively in a previous issue of Visually AI, here.
Try Perplexity here.
Factors to consider
As you evaluate these AI tools, key considerations include their availability in your region and platform support (web vs mobile).
You'll want to understand each model's particular capabilities - does it excel at coding, analysis, open-ended writing, or multi-modal skills?
Output quality can vary significantly between language models in terms of factual accuracy, consistency, and propensity for hallucinations.
Cost is another factor, with some tools being free, some on paid subscription models, and others charging per-query pricing.
The right tool for the job
Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all AI tool.
The "right" choice depends on your specific needs and use cases. Using multiple tools and being judicious about managing AI outputs is recommended as the technology rapidly evolves.
While the current crop of multi-modal AI assistants is powerful, we are still in relatively early days.
As language models grow more capable, we can expect even more versatile and specialized AI tools on the horizon.
You could have your AI service, tool, or event seen by Visually AI’s community of over 9,500 subscribers:
🚀 This Week’s AI Tools
Adobe Project Neo (beta): Adobe’s new text-to-3D image generator. (link)
Arc: Customizable browser that adapts to individual internet usage patterns, offering a clean and calm experience with a focus on privacy and security. (link)
FAQ Generator: Enter a website URL for an AI-generated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), for free. (link)
IDM-VTON: HuggingFace demo lets you upload your image and virtually try on garment images. (link)
Knapsack: Private AI sidekick that boosts your macOS desktop productivity. (link)
Professor AI: ChatGPT for advanced high school and university courses. (link)
🖼️ Image Prompts
PROMPT: coastal line, continuous, horizon, beaches, cliffs, waves, sunset, pastel skies, movement, serene, panning, panoramic, wide format, dynamic, side view
PROMPT: Vintage fashion photoshoot for Vogue magazine featuring an attractive woman with short hair, wearing a striped skirt and retro beret hat. Shot with natural light using a Hasselblad X2D for ultra-detailed, high-resolution images. Highlights include soft focus, depth of field, candid pose, and natural skin texture
Thanks for reading, and have a creative week!
Thanks for this newsletter, great quality content and recommendations!