The Beginning: When Curiosity Met Capability
Written By Michael Leggett
At Gen-AI, we’re not just observers of the AI space—we’re deeply embedded in it. Some of us have built AI tools, some have written books about them, and one of us once tried to get ChatGPT to do their online shopping (it failed—badly). But this year, we decided to do something a little different. Rather than just talk about what AI can do, we rolled up our sleeves and actually tested it—every meaningful capability, every popular platform, and every AI that claimed to know more than your average trivia night champion.
We wanted to answer a question that’s been echoing through boardrooms, classrooms, and Reddit threads alike: Which AI tools are genuinely the best at what they do?
Spoiler alert: not all AI tools are created equal. Some dazzled us. Others, well… let’s just say they need a software update and a long nap.
So, what follows is a comprehensive, 100% human-tested review of the AI platforms that truly delivered. No fluff, no jargon overload, and definitely no regurgitated press releases. Just real talk, real findings, and a few laughs along the way.
(also check out our top 10 Chat GPT alternatives here)
How We Tested (and Why You Should Trust Us)
We put each tool through a battery of realistic scenarios. Not just carefully worded prompts or academic benchmarks, but actual use cases:
- Could it solve a maths problem without hallucinating imaginary variables?
- Would it write a compelling blog post or just churn out SEO soup?
- Could it debug a chunk of code without inventing a function that doesn’t exist?
We evaluated each capability across 12 major categories, selected for relevance in the real world, from content writing to computer interaction, video generation to logical reasoning.
If a tool didn’t stand out, it didn’t make our top list. Simple as that.
The Findings: A Candid Look at AI Capabilities
Here’s where the magic (and occasional digital mayhem) happened. For each category, we’ve highlighted the top-performing tool—the one that didn’t just meet expectations, but smashed them.
1. General Knowledge & Question Answering – ChatGPT
ChatGPT is the digital equivalent of that one mate who knows a bit about everything. Need to know who won the 1992 Cricket World Cup? It’s got you. Want a primer on existential philosophy? Also got you. It delivers with context, accuracy, and—most importantly—a tone that doesn’t feel like it’s quoting from a textbook.
2. Content Generation (Writing) – Claude
If you’ve ever read a piece of AI-generated writing and thought, “This feels… off,” then Claude will be a breath of fresh air. It writes with nuance, emotional intelligence, and even the occasional stylistic flourish. Basically, it’s what you’d get if you crossed Hemingway with a very clever robot.
3. Code Generation & Debugging – DeepSeek
Developers, meet your new favourite colleague. DeepSeek not only writes clean, scalable code—it also debugs like a pro. We threw Python, JavaScript, and even a smidge of Rust at it, and it didn’t blink. And unlike some tools, it doesn’t make stuff up just to sound smart.
4. Mathematical Problem Solving – DeepSeek
DeepSeek again? Yep. This time for maths. Whether it’s calculus, algebra, or symbolic logic, it handles each problem with grace and a scary level of precision. Maths teachers, beware: your students have a new tutor.
5. Logical Reasoning & Inference – ChatGPT
This is where ChatGPT flexes its mental muscles. Give it a classic Sherlock Holmes-style riddle, and it’ll walk you through the logic step-by-step. It’s not just guessing—it’s deducing.
6. Web Search & Information Retrieval – Perplexity
Forget blue links. Perplexity returns cited sources, real-time data, and genuinely useful summaries. It’s like having a research intern who works fast, doesn’t complain, and drinks zero coffee.
7. In-Depth Research & Analysis – ChatGPT
When we needed long-form research—think geopolitics, legal analysis, or complex tech trends—ChatGPT brought structure, citations, and clarity. It doesn’t just aggregate information; it synthesises it like a true academic.
8. Voice-Based Interaction – ChatGPT
Ever had a conversation with a bot that sounded like it was being held hostage in a broom cupboard? Yeah, we have too. Thankfully, ChatGPT’s voice interaction mode feels natural, responsive, and dare we say… pleasant?
9. Image Generation – ChatGPT (DALL·E 3)
From surreal landscapes to detailed product mockups, ChatGPT’s image capabilities via DALL·E 3 were nothing short of brilliant. It’s imaginative without going rogue—and we never once got a six-fingered hand. Progress!
10. Video Generation – Gemini
Gemini wowed us. Professional-grade video generation without the studio. It handled transitions, narration, and visuals with polish, giving marketers and educators alike a serious productivity boost.
11. Live Camera Interaction – ChatGPT (Vision)
Point it at a whiteboard, a receipt, or your cat’s suspicious behaviour—it interprets live visual input with remarkable accuracy. Useful, and just a little bit creepy (in a good way).
12. Direct Computer Interaction – Microsoft Copilot
Copilot is like a clever PA who lives in your computer. It integrates across systems, helps write emails, summarises meetings, and even helps automate tasks in Excel. All without breaking a digital sweat.
Hey look – we even made a simplified Excel version of this list, yup, we’re experts 🙂
A big shout out to one of our partner sites IoTech Ltd based in Poole, that offer advice, smart IoT sensors, solutions & services on The Internet of Things. Cheers chaps
Why This Matters for You (Yes, You!)
Whether you’re a business leader, a freelancer, or someone just trying to survive a never-ending inbox, the AI landscape is changing how we work, create, and think.
- Writers can now collaborate with tools that understand tone and structure.
- Developers are coding smarter, not harder.
- Teachers are using AI to personalise learning.
- Marketers are generating entire campaigns in hours, not weeks.
And yes, even your nan could use one of these tools to organise her recipes (we tested this; it was delicious).
But here’s the catch: the AI you use matters. Pick the wrong one, and you could end up with garbled text, hallucinated facts, or a UI so frustrating you’ll start sending smoke signals.
The Future: What’s Next in the AI Arms Race?
We’re only scratching the surface. In the next year alone, expect:
- More multimodal models (text, voice, image, and video in one seamless workflow)
- Greater customisation, letting users fine-tune models for specific industries
- Improved transparency, with clearer citations and better explanation of decisions
- Increased collaboration between tools, making it less about which model is best and more about how they complement each other
As AI becomes less of a novelty and more of a necessity, the question won’t be if you should use it—it’ll be how well you’re using it.
Our Honest Final Word on the AI Street
We set out to find the best AI tools. We found them. But more importantly, we found a new way of working.
The top-performing AIs on this list aren’t perfect (yet). But they’re powerful, accessible, and ready to change how we write, build, teach, and create.
And if you’re still on the fence? Our advice: Pick one. Try it. Break it. Ask weird questions. Give it impossible tasks. Let it surprise you.
Because behind the code and datasets and buzzwords, these tools are quietly revolutionising the way we think and work. And trust us—you want to be along for the ride.
