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AI by the numbers, 2026
Choosing a tool
ChatGPT is not the only option
Five tools worth knowing, each does something a little different. Start with the one that matches your situation.
ChatGPT
by OpenAI
Best for: Asking questions, explaining documents, writing help, recipes, travel planning.
✓Huge range of tasks
✓Works on phone & desktop
✓Best free starting point
✗Daily message limit on free
✗Can make things up
Google Gemini
by Google
Best for: People already using Gmail or Google Docs. Helps draft emails and summarize documents without switching apps.
✓Connects to Gmail & Docs
✓No new account needed
✓Free with Google account
✗Less powerful than GPT-4
✗Google account required
Claude
by Anthropic
Best for: Reading long documents, writing thoughtful letters, nuanced health or legal questions.
✓Great for documents
✓Honest about its limits
✓Strong at letter writing
✗No image generation
✗Less well-known
Microsoft Copilot
by Microsoft
Best for: Windows users and anyone using Microsoft 365. Built into Word, Excel, and Outlook.
✓Built into Windows
✓Works inside Word & Excel
✓Free to start
✗Full features need Microsoft 365
✗Less capable outside Office
Perplexity
by Perplexity AI
Best for: Research and fact-checking. Searches the web in real time and shows exactly where each answer came from.
✓Cites real sources
✓Current information
✓Great for research
✗Not ideal for writing help
✗Less conversational
Should you pay?
Most people should start free
An honest breakdown of what the free tier gets you and when it makes sense to upgrade.
✓Ask questions on most topics
✓Explain confusing documents
✓Write and edit drafts
✓Get step-by-step instructions
✗Daily message limit
✗Slightly older AI model
✓No daily message limits
✓Latest, most capable AI model
✓Faster responses
✓Image generation (ChatGPT)
✗Costs $240 per year
✗Free version is fine for most
Our recommendation
Use the free version for 2 to 4 weeks first. If you are regularly hitting the daily limit, then consider upgrading. Most readers over 50 find the free tier covers everything they need.
5 terms worth knowing
The AI words you will hear most often
You do not need to know everything, just these five will make everything else make sense.
See all 25 terms in the AI glossary →Beginner guides
Read these in order, or jump to what matters most
Five guides that take you from total beginner to confident user. Each one builds on the last.
Try it yourself
Have a confusing document? Let AI explain it.
Upload a Medicare bill, insurance letter, or Social Security notice and get a plain-English explanation in under 20 seconds. Free, no account needed, nothing stored.