AI Model Comparison

Not all AI assistants are created equal. Each has different training data, capabilities, and ways of retrieving information. Understanding these differences is crucial for targeting your AI optimisation efforts.

Quick Comparison Table

Understanding the Differences

Training Cutoffs: Why They Matter

A model's training cutoff determines what it "knows" without web search. If your company was founded in 2024, models with 2023 cutoffs won't know about you natively. They'll need to search the web to find your information.

Web Search: SEO Still Matters

Models with web search capabilities (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot) retrieve current information at query time. For these models, your traditional SEO efforts directly impact AI visibility:

• Pages that rank well in Google are more likely to be retrieved by Gemini and Perplexity
• Bing rankings influence Microsoft Copilot responses
• ChatGPT with browsing pulls from top search results

Context Windows: How Much Can AI "See"

Context window size determines how much text an AI can process at once. This matters for:

Model Profiles

Dive deeper into each model's unique characteristics and how to optimise for them:

Where Users Encounter AI

Understanding where your audience uses AI helps you prioritise. Different contexts mean different AI assistants:

At work, enterprise employees increasingly encounter Microsoft Copilot embedded directly in Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook. For many, this is the only AI they can use since IT controls access. B2B brands need to understand that visibility in Copilot directly impacts buying decisions happening inside these tools.

At home, consumers turn to ChatGPT for product research, recommendations, and planning purchases. Meta AI reaches them directly in WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook for quick questions. These are where "what's the best..." conversations happen.

In Google Search, Gemini AI Overviews appear for millions of searches daily. Many users don't even realise they're reading AI-generated summaries. Your SEO directly determines whether you appear in these.

For research and analysis, Perplexity has become the go-to for research with citations, while Claude handles deep analysis of long documents. Content publishers benefit from citation-based visibility that drives actual traffic.

In software development, Claude and ChatGPT are constant companions for coding assistance. Developers ask about libraries, APIs, and tools throughout their workday. Documentation quality and presence in dev forums matter enormously.

Regional contexts also matter: Le Chat is gaining traction in European enterprise settings, while DeepSeek is popular in Asia and tech communities. International brands should consider regional AI preferences.

Prioritising Your Efforts

You can't do everything at once. Here are the highest-impact activities for AI visibility, ranked by importance: