Chatbots (LLMs)

by Sarah MacPherson, a product manager, ai enthusiast trying to find the best and most interesting ways to work with this new frontier

What are chatbots (LLMs)?

Chatbots are AI assistants you can chat with using natural language. You type questions or requests, and they respond like a knowledgeable person would. Think of them as super-capable writing partners, research assistants, brainstorming buddies, and tutors all rolled into one.

These chatbots are powered by what experts call "large language models" or LLMs. An LLM is an AI system trained on massive amounts of text to understand and generate human-like language. You interact with them by typing back and forth, like having a conversation with someone who has read millions of books and articles.

The most popular chatbots right now are ChatGPT (made by OpenAI), Claude (made by Anthropic), Gemini (made by Google), and Microsoft Copilot (powered by OpenAI's technology). They're all capable tools that can help with writing, learning, problem-solving, and creative projects.

What makes these tools work so well is that they understand context and can have back-and-forth exchanges with you. You can ask follow-up questions, request changes to their responses, or clarify what you need, just like you would in a conversation with another person.

Why use chatbots?

We find chatbots helpful for several reasons:

Speed and convenience: Need to draft an email, explain a concept, or generate ideas? Chatbots can do it in seconds, saving you time on routine tasks.

Learning and exploration: Curious about quantum physics, historical events, or how something works? Chatbots can explain complex topics in simple language tailored to your level.

Overcoming blocks: Stuck on a writing project or can't think of ideas? Chatbots can help you get unstuck by providing starting points, suggestions, or different perspectives.

Editing and improvement: Already have a draft? Chatbots can help you refine it, adjust the tone, fix grammar, or make it clearer.

AI prompt example: "Help me write a professional email to my manager requesting time off next month for a family event"

Chatbots won't replace human creativity, expertise, or judgment, but they're incredibly useful tools for everyday tasks.

Guides in this section

ChatGPT

Claude

Gemini

Microsoft Copilot

Choosing and using chatbots

Real example: Using a chatbot to plan a project

Let's say you're planning a community fundraiser and feeling overwhelmed by all the details. Here's how a chatbot could help:

Brainstorming ideas: You start by asking, "Give me 10 creative fundraising ideas for a local animal shelter with a budget under $500."

ChatGPT quickly generates a list: bake sale, trivia night, pet photo contest, silent auction, car wash, online raffle, and more. You pick three that sound feasible.

Developing a plan: You ask, "Help me create a timeline for organizing a pet photo contest fundraiser over the next six weeks."

Claude provides a week-by-week breakdown: announcing the contest, promoting it on social media, collecting entries, setting up voting, announcing winners, and collecting donations.

Drafting communications: You need to write an email to local pet owners. You prompt, "Write a friendly 150-word email inviting people to submit photos of their pets for a fundraising contest, emphasizing that it supports the animal shelter."

Gemini drafts an email you can personalize and send.

Refining your materials: The first draft is a bit too formal. You say, "Make this more casual and fun."

The chatbot adjusts the tone instantly.

Troubleshooting problems: A few days in, you realize you haven't thought about how to collect payments. You ask, "What are simple, low-cost ways to collect small donations online for a community fundraiser?"

Copilot suggests using platforms like PayPal, Venmo, or GoFundMe and explains the pros and cons of each.

In this example, chatbots didn't do the work for you, but they helped you move forward quickly, generate ideas, and solve problems as they came up. This is the kind of practical support these tools provide every day.

The tools covered in this section

We focus on four major chatbots:

ChatGPT: The most popular and widely used chatbot. Great for general-purpose tasks, creative writing, coding, and brainstorming. Offers plugins and image generation with the paid version.

Claude: Known for thoughtful, nuanced responses and excellent handling of long documents. Ideal for research, analysis, and careful reasoning.

Gemini: Google's chatbot with strong image analysis capabilities and integration with Google services like Gmail and Docs.

Microsoft Copilot: Integrated into Windows and Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, and Outlook. Web-connected by default, making it useful for current information.

All four have free versions, so you can try them risk-free and decide which fits your needs.

What to keep in mind

As you explore chatbots, remember a few important things:

AI makes mistakes: These tools can confidently state incorrect information. Always verify important facts, especially for medical, legal, or financial advice.

AI is a starting point, not the final word: Use chatbots to draft, brainstorm, and explore, but add your own judgment, creativity, and expertise to the results.

Privacy matters: Don't share sensitive personal information (passwords, financial details, private medical information) in chatbot conversations.

Experiment and learn: The best way to understand these tools is to try them. Play around, see what works, and develop your own sense of when and how to use them.

Ready to get started?

Pick a chatbot to explore first. We recommend starting with ChatGPT since it's the most established, but any of the four is a great choice. Sign up, try a few prompts, and see what happens. You'll quickly get a feel for how chatbots work and how they might fit into your life.