AI chatbots have evolved greatly, from simple tools to essential daily helpers. As these tools become a bigger part of our work and lives, some teams even look for ways to share accounts securely—allowing multiple members to access a premium subscription without compromising personal or company data. ChatGPT, launched in 2022, truly showed us the power of AI. Today, a variety of AI chatbots exist, each with unique features to help you build things, conduct research, create images, and work faster. Keeping our information safe ensures that digital interactions remain private and protected in this new AI world.

How AI Chatbots Work

AI chatbots function by taking your input (your prompt) and sending it to an AI model. This model then processes your request and provides an answer. The chatbot application saves your conversations. The AI model is responsible for understanding your input and generating the response.

Many applications use different AI models. Developers can also set rules for how these models reply. This means various chatbots might give different answers, even if they use the same basic AI engine.

LLMs vs. Reasoning Models

Recently, new types of AI models called reasoning models have emerged, differing from older Large Language Models (LLMs).

Large Language Models (LLMs) excel at understanding and creating human language. They learn from vast amounts of text data, predicting the next word in a sentence. However, they may struggle with problems they haven't encountered much before.

Reasoning Models aim to think logically to solve complex problems. They break problems into steps and show their thought process. They learn from less data, focusing on tasks that require careful thought. This means they might have less general knowledge and take longer to answer, as they need more time to "think." Some believe these models are a step towards true artificial intelligence, but significant progress is still needed.

How to Pick the Best AI Chatbot

Choosing the right AI chatbot can be challenging. Consider what you need it for. Here are key factors to evaluate:

  • AI Model Quality: The chatbot's core AI must consistently provide accurate, clear, and high-quality answers. A superior AI model leads to better interactions.
  • Conversational Experience: The chatbot should be user-friendly and pleasant to interact with. It should offer good answers and be flexible in assisting you with tasks.
  • Chat App Tools: Many chatbots go beyond simple conversation, offering tools to search the internet, generate images, create charts, or even build small dashboards. These additional features can significantly enhance productivity.
  • Other Features: Any additional functions are beneficial. This could include shared writing spaces, effective chat management, advanced voice options, or tools that automate tasks. These features add significant value.

By considering these points, you can find a chatbot that meets your current needs and can adapt to new technologies.

Top AI Chatbots in 2025

ChatGPT

Since its launch in late 2022, ChatGPT has become a widely popular AI tool, changing how people view artificial intelligence. It's simple to use—just type your question—and remembers past conversations to provide more accurate answers. ChatGPT is highly versatile, handling tasks from text-to-image generation and data analysis to voice interactions, all at impressive speed. Users can share chats, customize the bot with specific instructions, and explore the newest o5 model for deeper thinking on complex problems.

ChatGPT also offers advanced features: the Search tool finds online information with sources; Deep Research analyzes results for deeper insights; Projects let you upload documents to guide responses; Canvas enables smooth co-writing; Advanced Voice Mode allows natural real-time conversation; and Operator AI can browse the web to complete goals. 

Claude

Anthropic's Claude chatbot aims to be helpful, harmless, and honest. It can remember a large amount of information (up to 150,000 words per chat), making it ideal for working with extensive documents. Its standout feature, Artifacts, lets you create interactive dashboards, animations, or simple games that you can modify during your chat. Claude may soon gain AI agent features. While the free plan has message limits, a Pro plan is available for $20 a month.

Meta AI

Meta AI is available as a standalone app and integrated into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. You can use it to create images and small animations for free. It can search the web, but its accuracy might not be as strong as other chatbots, so always verify facts. Meta offers its Llama models for developers to use for free. This helps many businesses use AI without high costs, promoting widespread adoption of Meta's AI technology.

Google Gemini

Google Gemini is a leading AI chatbot that integrates seamlessly with other Google products. If you're not satisfied with an answer, you can easily Google it yourself. It boasts a very long context window, remembering vast amounts of information for precise details. Gemini works exceptionally well with your Google account and services like Gmail, Google Docs, Maps, and YouTube. You can search Gmail, summarize Google Drive files, or plan trips, even getting packing lists. Gemini also features "Gems," customizable instructions similar to ChatGPT's GPTs.

Microsoft Copilot

AI Model: OpenAI's models

Microsoft Copilot uses OpenAI's AI models and is built into Microsoft Edge and Office apps. Its primary role is to boost productivity within these programs. It can help with writing in Word, analyzing data in Excel, and refining presentations in PowerPoint. While it can function independently, its main strength lies in providing a cohesive AI experience for users already within the Microsoft environment.

Poe

Poe is unique as an AI model aggregator, offering access to many AI models in one place. Instead of a fixed subscription, you buy points to use different models. This allows for creative combinations, such as using one AI to write an image prompt, sending it to another AI for image creation, and then animating it with a third AI, all within the same chat. You can also create and sell your own chatbots on Poe, choosing the base AI model and customizing its behavior. This platform provides great freedom to mix and match various AI tools.

Conclusion

AI chatbots are rapidly changing, offering many tools to boost productivity and creativity. From ChatGPT to Claude, Meta AI, Gemini, Copilot, and Poe, there are numerous options. These tools will continue to improve and become more connected. However, with such powerful tools comes the responsibility of ensuring privacy and security. As we increasingly use AI in our daily lives, it's crucial to know how to keep our digital information safe. This means being careful about what we share. For example, if you're using a chatbot for work, you'll want to make sure you can share accounts securely with your team without risking company data. The future of digital communication is here. We must use it wisely and always prioritize security.