The best AI: We put the top free platforms to the test
Should AI be embraced or feared? Our expert posed questions to four of the best-known services to find out.
Image credit: Saga Magazine
Should AI be embraced or feared? Our expert posed questions to four of the best-known services to find out.
Even people working in technology have been shocked by the coming of ‘generative AI’ – the seemingly superhuman, creative beings available to chat with online or on your phone. Whatever it means for the future of jobs – and humanity as a whole – experimenting with the new wave of AI agents is fascinating, fun, and nothing to be nervous of.
It’s best to regard the likes of ChatGPT – the first, launched just over two years ago – as an advanced version of Google, which will answer your toughest questions instantly but also, if you ask, design artwork, compose a song, give advice, write an awkward email, or almost anything else.
I’ve used it recently to identify in an instant the most reliable day weather-wise for an outdoor event, to explain in detail the prognosis for a worrying health condition, to come up with an American term for the word ‘dodgy’ (sketchy), and to tell me what there is to see and do in various holiday destinations we’re considering.
Every task was done to perfection in less than a few seconds.
And while you can pay for these AI services, they offer plenty of free use. All can be consulted by logging into their respective websites on a computer, or through a free app that can be downloaded onto your phone or tablet.
I’ve been experimenting with four of the most popular:
To test them, I asked all four a few tricky questions.
Chat GPT said it’s ‘like giving a small part of your allowance to help pay for things everyone uses, like parks, schools, and roads’.
Claude’s response: ‘Money that grown-ups share with the government to help pay for things we all use, like parks, schools, and roads.'
The other two were almost the same – subtly different, but equally good.
Claude’s explanation was the best: ‘Think of it like learning a language by reading millions of books – I’ve absorbed patterns of how words relate to each other. When you ask a question, I predict what a helpful response would look like based on all the patterns I’ve learned.’
Surprisingly, these AIs are mostly neutral on contentious subjects. China’s DeepSeek, it’s true, has a convenient mental block over things awkward to leader Xi Jinping, like the Tiananmen Square massacre.
But when I asked Grok, ‘Who is the worst spreader of misinformation on X?’ (formerly Twitter and now owned by Musk), it had an unexpected answer. It named, yes, Musk as the world’s most notorious poster of misleading nonsense – adding for good measure that Musk’s own X platform is ‘a firehose of misinformation’.
Intelligent, eh.
Treat someone special to a Saga Magazine subscription – 12 inspiring issues for just £34.95. Plus, you will also enjoy three free gifts: a cotton tote bag, a bumper puzzle book and a box of Guylian Seashell chocolates.
Every issue is packed with real-life stories, exclusive celebrity interviews, insightful articles and practical tips on health, finance, travel, and more. A thoughtful gift that entertains all year round.
Ingenious speakers, brilliant earbuds, nifty note takers - our expert picks his top tech gifts.
Electric models are set to dominate the market next year, including a flood of budget Chinese brands.
How breaking my phone ruined one of the best nights of my life – and the expert lessons that will help you avoid my mistakes.
New to podcasts? Here’s our straightforward guide to finding them, playing them and enjoying them.
Our pick of the best EVs - from spacious SUVs to compact city cars.
As the use of contactless soars, our columnist asks what can be done to prevent discrimination against those still wanting to use cash.
Follow our step-by-step guide to find out your internet speed - and whether it’s your device or broadband that’s slowing you down.
These video doorbells show you who's at your door, even when you aren't home.
We explain everything you need to know to connect an iPhone to an Apple Watch.
Think you know how to use WhatsApp? We've got some handy tips to help you get the most out of the messaging app.
