This is not a sponsored comparison. This is what I actually use, what I actually pay for, and what I have actually learned.
Everyone Has an Opinion. Here Is Mine.
Everyone has an opinion about which AI is the best.
Some people swear by ChatGPT. Others say Gemini is underrated. A growing group of developers have moved to Claude. And somewhere in the background, Microsoft Copilot is quietly waiting for more people to notice it.
I have used all four.
Not just for quick experiments. I use them regularly for my teaching work, my engineering projects, my businesses, and my personal study. Each one has found its place in my workflow — and each one has also frustrated me in different ways.
If you are trying to decide which AI to use — or whether you are paying for the right one — this might help you.
A Quick Note Before We Start
There is no single best AI.
That answer depends on what you are doing, how you work, and what you are willing to pay. My workflow as a lecturer, engineer, and business owner in Miri is different from a graphic designer in Kuala Lumpur or a student in Kota Kinabalu.
What I can tell you is this: I stopped asking “which is the best?” and started asking “which is the right one for this task?”
That shift changed everything.
🤖 ChatGPT — The First One I Trusted
ChatGPT was my first AI tool. I have been using it long enough that it feels like it knows me.
That might sound strange, but it is true. The memory feature in ChatGPT has built up a picture of how I think, what I am working on, and how I like things explained. When I open ChatGPT now, I do not need to re-explain my context every time. It remembers my projects, my tone, and my preferences. That is genuinely useful.
For generating information, drafting, summarizing, and thinking through problems out loud — ChatGPT is still my most comfortable tool. It is the AI I reach for when I want to think, not just produce.
What I Use It For
- Generating and expanding ideas quickly
- Drafting content when I need something fast
- Image generation — I am genuinely impressed with the quality. It matches my personal art preference better than the others.
- Codex integration for coding tasks (which is now part of ChatGPT, so that is convenient)
What Frustrates Me
The pricing model is fragmented. ChatGPT charges separately for API access, SORA 2 (AI video), image generation, and other features. If you start using multiple capabilities, the costs multiply quickly and the products feel disconnected from each other. You end up managing several billing lines for what feels like it should be one service.
Best for: People who want a powerful all-rounder that remembers their preferences and produces great images. If you want one AI that does most things well and you are willing to pay for it, ChatGPT is a strong choice.
🤖 Claude — My Engineering and Coding Partner
Claude came into my life differently. I did not come to Claude for general conversation. I came because of MCP — Model Context Protocol — and because Claude Code and Claude Cowork changed how I think about AI-assisted engineering work.
If you are a developer, lecturer with technical work, or a builder of any kind, Claude is worth serious attention.
The way Claude connects to tools, files, systems, and workflows through MCP is something the other AI tools have not matched for me. I use Claude Cowork to manage actual files, write real code, and run structured tasks. It is not just chatting — it is working.
Claude Code especially fits the way I like to work. I can give it a task, it breaks it down, executes steps, and shows its thinking. For engineering and technical problem-solving, this approach is closer to having a junior colleague than a chatbot.
What I Use It For
- Coding and technical problem-solving
- MCP-connected workflows and file management
- Structured engineering tasks that need step-by-step reasoning
- Writing and blog drafting — including this article
What Frustrates Me
- Token limits. When you are deep into a long project or a complex codebase, Claude can hit its context window and lose track of earlier parts of the conversation. This has broken my flow more than once.
- No image generation. Claude does not do this. For visual work, I have to go somewhere else.
Best for: Engineers, developers, technical lecturers, and anyone who wants AI that works with their tools rather than just answering questions. If your work involves code, files, systems, or structured outputs — Claude is the one.
🤖 Gemini — The Whole Package, Whether You Asked for It or Not
Google’s approach with Gemini is different from the others. When you subscribe to Gemini Pro, Google gives you a lot — YouTube Premium, Google AI Studio, Google Drive integration, Gemini in Gmail and Docs, and access to their multimodal models.
The value feels real. If you are already inside the Google ecosystem — and most of us in Malaysia are — the subscription makes sense. You are not just getting an AI. You are getting a bundle of tools tied together.
For creative work, Gemini surprised me. You can generate video, music, and images all from one place. The integration with Google’s tools means your work can flow between AI and your existing files without much friction.
What I Use It For
- Video and music generation
- Working within Google Drive and Docs
- Exploring multimodal AI — combining text, image, and audio in one workflow
- Google AI Studio for more technical AI experiments
What I Have Noticed
- Image quality is decent, but for my personal art style preference, ChatGPT still wins. This is subjective — your taste may differ.
- The bundle approach means you get things you did not ask for. Some people find that overwhelming. I find it worth the price because I use most of what is included.
Best for: People already in the Google ecosystem who want an AI that connects to their existing tools. Also good for creators who want video and music generation without paying for separate services.
🤖 Microsoft Copilot — Still Figuring It Out
I will be honest. I have not fully explored Copilot yet.
The potential is clear, especially for people who live inside Microsoft 365 — Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook. If your work depends on those tools, Copilot could change your daily workflow significantly.
What I have seen so far is that the Power Automate / Flow side of Copilot — the automation features — is more complex to set up than I expected. The promise is there: automate repetitive tasks, connect systems, build workflows without deep coding. But the learning curve is real, and I have not had the time to go deep on it yet.
This is one I plan to revisit. When I do, I will write a proper update.
What I Plan to Use It For
- Microsoft 365 integration — Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook
- Workflow automation through Power Automate
- Business admin tasks that currently take too much manual time
Honest status: Work in progress. I will update this section when I have real experience to share.
Best for: Professionals who live inside Microsoft 365 and want AI that works directly inside Word, Excel, and Teams. Also potentially powerful for business automation once you get past the setup complexity.
The Real Reason I Use Multiple Tools
Here is something I do not often say out loud.
I have too many ideas and not enough time.
I am a lecturer with classes to prepare and students to guide. I am a father with a family that deserves my presence. I run several businesses that each need attention. I have a PhD to push forward. I have hobbies — creative work, building things, exploring new technology — that keep me sane. And somewhere in the middle of all of that, I am trying to build this blog.
Every hour matters.
That is actually why I use more than one AI tool. Not because I enjoy managing multiple subscriptions. But because the right tool for the right task saves me time that I genuinely cannot afford to waste.
When I am in the middle of an engineering problem at 10pm after the children are asleep, I do not want to think about which AI to open. I already know. Claude for code, ChatGPT for ideas, Gemini when I need something visual and quick.
Each tool has earned its place not because of marketing — but because of the hours I do not have to spend struggling when I use the right one.
If you are reading this and you also feel stretched thin between work, family, business, learning, and everything else — I want you to know that AI tools, used wisely, can genuinely give you time back. Not all of it. But enough to matter.
What This Means If You Are Just Starting
If you are new to AI tools and trying to decide where to begin, here is my simple advice:
Start with one. Learn it well. Then add a second only when you have a clear reason.
Do not subscribe to all four at once. That is expensive and confusing.
- If you are a student or general user — start with ChatGPT or Gemini. Both have free tiers.
- If you are a developer or technical user — try Claude. The free tier is useful for getting started.
- If you are already in Microsoft 365 — explore Copilot. It may already be included in your subscription.
- If you are a Google user who wants more than chat — Gemini Pro’s bundle is genuinely good value.
A Reflection
As a Christian, I think about tools differently than some people do.
Tools serve purposes. They do not define us. The best AI is the one that helps you do faithful, useful, meaningful work more efficiently — not the one with the most impressive demo.
I use four AI tools not because I am obsessed with technology, but because different tasks genuinely need different strengths. And I am always asking: am I using this tool, or is it using me?
That question is worth keeping close, no matter which tool you choose.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Colossians 3:23
Conclusion
Claude is my engineering partner. ChatGPT is my thinking companion with a memory. Gemini is my creative bundle. Copilot is still being discovered.
None of them is perfect. All of them are useful — in the right context.
The goal is not to use the best AI. The goal is to become someone who uses AI wisely to do better work.
If this helped you, share it with someone who is still trying to figure out which AI to pay for.
Your Turn
Which AI tool do you use most, and why? Leave a comment below — I am genuinely curious what is working for people in Malaysia and Sarawak specifically.
If you want me to go deeper on any one of these tools — especially how I use Claude for engineering or ChatGPT for content — let me know and I will write a dedicated post.
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JOSIAH Miri 