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A comparison of the AI assistants Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and OpenAI ChatGPT

Published on: March 14, 2025 / Updated on: March 14, 2025 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

A comparison of the AI assistants Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and OpenAI ChatGPT – Image: Xpert.Digital

How generative AI is transforming how we work and get information

AI assistants put to the test: strengths, weaknesses and potential applications

The landscape of AI language models has changed dramatically since the end of 2022. The introduction of ChatGPT ushered in a new era of AI assistants, fundamentally transforming how we work, communicate, and access information. Three key players now dominate the market: OpenAI's ChatGPT, Microsoft's Copilot, and Google's Gemini. These three AI systems are vying for supremacy in the growing market of generative AI. The following report provides a comprehensive analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, and potential applications of these AI assistants.

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Development history and technical basics

The three AI assistants have different roots and development paths that significantly shape their current capabilities. Each system is based on different language models with unique characteristics.

The origin and evolution of AI assistants

OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, triggering an unprecedented boom in generative AI. This success compelled tech giants Microsoft and Google to quickly follow suit. Microsoft introduced Copilot—originally called Bing Chat—as a preview in February 2023 and released it to the public in May 2023. Thanks to a strategic partnership with OpenAI, Copilot uses the same Large Language Model (LLM) as ChatGPT and integrates Bing search for real-time information access. Google responded concurrently with the release of Bard in February 2023, which was renamed Gemini a year later. Throughout 2024, Google significantly improved its language models.

The development pace of these AI assistants is impressive. While ChatGPT continuously introduced new versions of its GPT models (from GPT-3.5 to GPT-4 and the multimodal GPT-40), Microsoft focused on deeply integrating Copilot into its ecosystem. Google, on the other hand, worked intensively to overcome the initial weaknesses of Gemini, which was criticized for its tendency to “hallucinate” incorrect information. In December 2023, Gemini received a significant update to the new AI model Gemini Pro 1.0, bringing its response quality comparable to that of GPT-3.5.

Comparison of the AI models used (as of March 2025)

ChatGPT

OpenAI's latest GPT models:

GPT-4o: The current flagship model with multimodal capabilities for processing text, image, audio and video.
GPT-4o mini: A compact, multimodal version, optimized for smaller tasks and cost-sensitive applications.
GPT-4.5: An improved version with more precise answers, more natural interactions, and an expanded knowledge base.
o1: An advanced model that can solve complex problems using logical steps.
o3: The latest generation (o3-mini and o3mini-high) which is even more powerful than its predecessors.

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Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot currently uses several AI models from OpenAI:

GPT-4 Turbo: Since April 2024, licensed commercial customers have priority access to GPT-4 Turbo in Microsoft 365 Copilot.
GPT-4o: This is the latest model, offering multimodal capabilities for processing text, image, audio and video.

However, Microsoft plans to reduce its reliance on OpenAI. According to reports from March 2025, Microsoft is exploring alternatives and experimenting with integrating AI models from other providers such as xAI, Meta, Anthropic, and Deepseek into Copilot.

In addition, Microsoft is developing its own AI technologies for Copilot, such as the Copilot Agents, which are expected to be available to all Microsoft 365 Copilot license holders from the beginning of 2025.

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Google Gemini

Google relies on its own model family:

Gemini 2.0 Flash: The latest version, generally available since February 2025.
Gemini Ultra/Advanced: Competes with GPT-4 and surpasses it in some areas.
Gemini Pro: Comparable to GPT-3.5 in performance.

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Performance comparison

Context window: Gemini Advanced offers an impressive context window of up to 1 million tokens for end users, while the API version even supports 2 million tokens. In comparison, GPT-4 handles 128,000 tokens.
Multimodality: Both GPT-4o and Gemini 2.0 Flash support multimodal input, including text, image, audio and video.
Efficiency: Gemini 2.0 Flash has been specifically optimized for real-time applications and offers very high speed.

Core functions and capabilities

The three AI assistants differ significantly in their core functions and capabilities. These differences are crucial for their respective strengths and optimal areas of application.

Text generation and understanding

All three AI assistants can generate and understand high-quality text, but there are subtle differences in their capabilities. ChatGPT stands out for its smooth conversational style and innovative features. It excels at creating a wide variety of text formats, including emails, scripts, poems, and even code. Its strength lies in its ability to grasp complex prompts and respond with dynamic and interactive output.

Microsoft Copilot truly shines when used with Microsoft applications. The tool completes sentences, improves text, and suggests tailored content that fits seamlessly into the workflow of Microsoft products. This integration into the existing work environment makes Copilot particularly valuable for users who already rely heavily on Microsoft products.

Google Gemini impresses with its deep understanding of language fundamentals. Designed as a multimedia model, it can create sophisticated and highly context-aware texts. Its strength lies in its ability to understand and generate texts with complex relationships.

Multimodality and media processing

The ability to process and generate different types of media varies considerably among the three assistants. Google Gemini is considered a multimodal powerhouse that excels at processing and producing a wide variety of data formats, such as videos, audio, and images. These versatile capabilities significantly expand Gemini's range of applications.

ChatGPT has also gained considerable multimodal capabilities with the introduction of GPT-4o. It can generate images in various formats using DALL-E 3, create text, analyze images, and even interact with speech. This versatility makes ChatGPT a comprehensive tool for creative and analytical tasks.

Microsoft Copilot was originally developed primarily for text and code processing. Although it now offers multimodal capabilities, it lags somewhat behind the competition in this area. It can create images with a resolution of 1024 × 1024 pixels, but offers fewer formatting options than ChatGPT. However, its integration with the Microsoft application suite allows for some interaction with various data types.

Programming support and code generation

The ability to generate code and provide programming assistance is a key differentiator among AI assistants. Microsoft Copilot excels in this area, as it is specifically tailored to the needs of developers. It offers real-time code suggestions and completion along with explanations of how things work, significantly boosting developer productivity.

Google Gemini, with its multimodal capabilities, is considered a revolutionary code generator and programming assistant. It excels at tasks such as code debugging, writing code from natural language descriptions, and optimizing existing codebases.

While ChatGPT can generate code snippets and explain the code logic, its primary focus is on text-based interactions. ChatGPT's code generation capabilities are somewhat more limited compared to Copilot, although they are perfectly adequate for many use cases.

Integration and ecosystem connection

Integration into existing services and ecosystems is a crucial factor for the practical usability of AI assistants. Google Gemini is tightly integrated into the Google ecosystem and can access data from Gmail, Drive, Maps, and other Google services. This seamless integration allows Gemini to leverage contextual information from the various Google services and thus deliver more relevant answers.

Microsoft Copilot is deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, particularly the Microsoft 365 suite. It assists users in applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook by using AI to complete tasks faster and more efficiently. For example, Copilot can edit text in Word, analyze complex spreadsheets in Excel, or create presentations in PowerPoint. This contextual support directly within the respective applications aims to simplify and accelerate existing workflows.

ChatGPT, on the other hand, is a standalone service accessible via a web interface, mobile apps, and an API. A key feature of ChatGPT is the ability to create CustomGPTs – custom AI assistants for specific tasks. This flexibility allows users to tailor ChatGPT to their individual needs.

Performance comparison and application areas

The practical performance and optimal areas of application of the three AI assistants vary considerably and should be taken into account when making a selection.

Accuracy and problem-solving skills

The accuracy and reliability of answers is a crucial factor in evaluating AI assistants. In a simple test with the question, “I have 5 oranges today, I ate 3 oranges last week. How many oranges do I have left?” (where the correct answer is 5), Microsoft's Copilot, Google Gemini, and ChatGPT (using GPT-4/40) all provided correct answers. Only ChatGPT, using the older GPT-3.5 model, failed this task.

ChatGPT, particularly with the GPT-4 model, is considered especially strong in logical reasoning and solving complex problems. However, Gemini and Copilot are catching up in this area. This ability for logical reasoning is crucial for complex tasks such as mathematical calculations, scientific analyses, or programming challenges.

Another important aspect is response speed. Gemini typically delivers particularly fast responses, which have become more accurate over time. While it's not faster than ChatGPT Plus, it can respond more quickly than the free version of ChatGPT. This response speed can be crucial in time-sensitive applications.

Strengths and optimal areas of application

Each of the three AI assistants has specific strengths that make it particularly well-suited for certain use cases. Google Gemini stands out with its multimodal capabilities and the potential to master advanced reasoning processes. Its excellent problem-solving algorithms and broad contextual window make it a powerful tool for complex tasks. It is especially suitable for users who need a versatile AI model to handle different data types and levels of complexity, and who are already deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.

Microsoft Copilot excels with its seamless integration into the Microsoft ecosystem. Copilot's strength lies in its context-aware support directly within the respective Microsoft application. It is the best choice for users who focus on code generation and support within the Microsoft ecosystem. It is particularly well-suited for Microsoft Office users and organizations using Office 365.

ChatGPT impresses with its remarkable conversational capabilities and versatility in text generation. It boasts an exceptionally comprehensive feature set and positions itself as an innovation driver with groundbreaking features such as Deep Research and the Operator concept. ChatGPT is ideal for users who prioritize conversational AI and creative text generation. It functions as a universal conversational AI suitable for general users, developers, and businesses.

Cost and accessibility

Cost and availability play a crucial role in the decision to use an AI assistant. All three providers offer both free and paid versions, with varying features and limitations.

ChatGPT offers a free version with GPT-3.5 and limited access to GPT-40. For approximately $20 per month, Plus subscribers gain access to more advanced models like GPT-4 and GPT-40 with higher usage limits. This pricing structure makes ChatGPT accessible to many individuals and small businesses.

Microsoft Copilot is available in a free basic version with access to GPT-40, but with certain feature limitations and usage limits. The Pro version costs approximately €22 per month and offers extended features without usage limits for GPT-40. For businesses, there is Copilot 365 for approximately €30 per month, which enables full integration with the Microsoft 365 environment. These tiered options allow users to choose the version that best suits their needs.

Google Gemini is also available in a free basic version, with performance similar to GPT-3.5. The Advanced/Ultra version offers advanced capabilities comparable to GPT-4. This flexibility in pricing models allows users with different budgets to benefit from the advantages of AI assistants.

Data protection and further steps

The use of AI assistants raises important questions about data protection, and at the same time the AI landscape is developing rapidly.

Data privacy aspects of AI assistants

For companies using AI assistance systems like Copilot or Gemini AI, data protection implications are of great importance. Microsoft has implemented “Enterprise Data Protection” for Copilot Chat, which ensures that data processed via Copilot services is protected through various measures. This is particularly important for companies that work with sensitive or confidential information.

With Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot, it's important to note that the free AI features now integrated into many modern tools often have access to extensive data. This shift means that many companies now have access to these extensive AI features for a small additional fee or at no extra cost, which raises questions about data processing.

When choosing an AI assistant, users should consider the privacy policies and data security measures of the respective provider, especially if sensitive or confidential information is to be processed. This is all the more important in regions with strict data protection regulations such as the European Union.

The next generation of AI: Autonomous assistants on the rise

The AI landscape is developing at a breathtaking pace. Experts predict another quantum leap in the development of AI assistants by 2025. Increasing competitive pressure among providers such as OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Meta is forcing operators to offer new features under intense pressure and continuously improve their systems.

One particularly interesting development is the trend toward more autonomous AI systems. While current AI assistants primarily react to requests, future versions will be increasingly able to act proactively. Instead of merely reacting passively, they will also be able to actively take on and execute tasks, if desired. This development toward AI agents promises to fundamentally change the way we interact with AI systems and significantly increase their usefulness.

The continuous improvement of multimodal capabilities is another important trend. Leading AI models are no longer limited to text: they recognize images, understand spoken language, and respond with natural-sounding voices. This versatility makes AI tools increasingly suitable for more complex and diverse tasks.

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Google Gemini vs. Microsoft Copilot vs. ChatGPT – Which AI assistant is right for you?

The choice between Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and OpenAI ChatGPT depends largely on the individual needs and requirements of the users. All three AI assistants offer impressive capabilities, but each also has its own strengths and weaknesses.

ChatGPT stands out for its versatility, strong conversational capabilities, and wide range of features. It's an excellent all-rounder, ideal for users seeking a flexible and powerful AI solution. With features like CustomGPTs, it also offers the ability to create specialized assistants for specific tasks.

Microsoft Copilot benefits from its deep integration into the Microsoft ecosystem and is particularly suitable for users who have already invested heavily in the Microsoft 365 suite. Its strengths lie in its concrete support for everyday Office tasks and in code generation within the Microsoft environment.

Google Gemini impresses with its large context window, fast response times, and strong multimodal capabilities. It is particularly useful for users who are already closely connected to the Google ecosystem and can benefit from integration with Google services.

When choosing an AI assistant, users should consider their specific requirements, preferred platforms, and privacy concerns. In many cases, it can also be beneficial to use multiple assistants for different tasks to leverage their respective strengths. Given the rapid pace of development in artificial intelligence, it is also advisable to keep track of the progress of the various platforms, as their capabilities are constantly evolving.

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