Conversational AI Platforms and Assistants
AI chatbots have evolved far beyond simple Q&A tools. Today’s conversational models can reason, write, generate images, analyse data, and automate workflows. Each platform below takes a slightly different approach: some, like ChatGPT and Claude, focus on creativity and deep reasoning; others, like Gemini, Copilot, or Amazon Q, integrate directly with productivity suites and developer environments.
This table provides an overview of the most popular AI assistants and their key strengths, helping learners, researchers, and professionals choose the right tool for their goals.
| Tool | Description | Key Features | UK Pricing (GBP/mo) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT (OpenAI) | The original conversational powerhouse, excelling in creative tasks and problem-solving. | GPT-4o access, custom GPTs, image generation; unlimited chats on Plus. | £16 (Plus); £154 (Pro); £20–23/user (Team) | openai.com/chatgpt/pricing |
| Claude (Anthropic) | Ethical, safety-focused AI designed for long-form analysis and coding. | 200K token context; collaborative projects; artifact creation. | £15 (Pro) | anthropic.com/claude |
| Gemini (Google) | Multimodal AI integrated with Google’s ecosystem for seamless search and productivity. | Real-time web access; code execution; integrations with Docs and Gmail. | £16 (Advanced via Google One) | gemini.google.com |
| Copilot (Microsoft) | Productivity-focused AI built into Microsoft 365 and Teams. | Image generation; web grounding; access to latest models. | £16 (Pro) | copilot.microsoft.com |
| Grok (xAI) | Witty, real-time AI integrated with X (Twitter), strong in humour and current events. | Unlimited queries; image analysis; voice mode in mobile apps. | £6 (Premium); £12 (Premium+) | grok.x.ai |
| Perplexity AI | Research-oriented AI assistant providing cited answers like a conversational search engine. | Pro searches; file uploads; API access. | £15 (Pro) | perplexity.ai |
| DeepSeek | Affordable Chinese AI model excelling in code and maths reasoning tasks. | 128K tokens; tool calling; multilingual reasoning; app-based chats. | Free chatbot; API pay-per-use (~£0.42/1M input tokens) | deepseek.com |
| Manus | Autonomous agent for executing complex tasks such as analysis or web creation. | Multi-model system (Claude/Qwen hybrid); single-prompt workflows; invite-only access. | £15 (Basic, 300 credits); £38 (Pro) | manus.im |
| Qwen (Alibaba) | Creative and multimodal AI from Alibaba, powering several agent tools like Quark. | Image editing; long-context; fine-tuning; integrated with WeChat/Yuanbao. | Free base; Cloud API ~£0.0008/1K tokens (Qwen-Max) | qwen.ai |
| Ernie (Baidu) | Fast, reasoning-focused AI for research and development tasks. | Affordable pricing; X1 benchmark variant; popular in China’s developer community. | £8 (Starter); custom enterprise | ernie.baidu.com |
| Meta AI (Llama-based) | Open-source foundation model integrated into social platforms and enterprise tools. | Image and video generation; WhatsApp/FB integration; fine-tuning options. | £0 (base); £20+ for enterprise add-ons | ai.meta.com |
| Amazon Q | AWS-native AI for developers and business teams, focused on code and analytics. | Developer and business tiers; integrates deeply with AWS services. | £15/user (Developer); custom (Business) | aws.amazon.com/q |
| IBM Watson Assistant | Enterprise-grade conversational platform for structured dialogue systems. | Advanced NLU; 1K intents; analytics and skill integrations. | £108 (Plus, 1K MAU) | ibm.com/watson-assistant |
| Salesforce Einstein | CRM-embedded AI for sales and customer support automation. | Bots within Service Cloud; predictive analytics and personalisation. | £19/user (add-on) | salesforce.com/einstein |