Last week, Google rebranded its AI chatbot as Gemini to coincide with the launch of an upgraded version. The new chatbot can handle complex tasks a lot better than its older version, and it’s also officially available to Canadians.

While its capabilities are roughly similar to ChatGPT’s, there are some important differences in performance depending on the type of output you’re after. Even carefully engineered prompts will produce different results in each model.

In this article, we’ll walk you through a comparison of the two models for three main functions for accounting firms: communications, logic, and image generation.

Which one is better for drafting communications?

There’s a mixed consensus on what model is best for doing things like writing client emails, drafting letters, and other communications.

Overall, ChatGPT is more creative and conversational, and it does seem to be able to understand the context of language prompts a little better. It’s better at writing things like marketing materials, especially ones that require a creative flair such as holiday social media posts.

That said, Gemini is a bit less verbose. It might be your next go-to AI model for writing things like engagement letters or other communications that need a less creative, more rational approach. 

In an article for Wired, Reece Rogers said Gemini outshone ChatGPT at rewriting emails: “Not only was the chatbot’s rewording appropriate for work, it was composed well enough to send without any adjustments. “

Another bonus point for Gemini is that its user interface has buttons for lengthening or shortening a response, as well as the ability to see all of its draft versions (using ChatGPT, making something longer or shorter requires another prompt). You can also export its responses directly to Google Docs.

Which one is better at understanding logic?

Online consensus seems to be that Gemini is better at logic, including the ability to integrate online information into its responses. If you ask it about current events, ChatGPT will often reference its training data and needs to be prompted further to search the web. On the other hand, Gemini will automatically give you current information without the extra step.

Additionally, Gemini seems a bit better at summarizing and organizing information in a logical way. So if you’re using generative AI for a first draft of onboarding instructions, Gemini might be a better bet.

If you’re using AI to analyze Excel data, Microsoft Copilot is your best bet. But if you’re holding off on a paid subscription for now, Gemini might be the better tool – especially if you need help generating graphs based on a specific dataset.

Which one is better at image generation?

Both Gemini and ChatGPT are multimodal, meaning they can generate text along with other types of content like images, audio files, and possibly video in the near future.

For now, ChatGPT tends to get a little more creative with images – and the general consensus suggests its better at following specific guidelines closely. If you need marketing materials that follow a particular graphic art style, ChatGPT will be more creative and better able to fine-tune its image to match what you’re looking for.

However, Gemini tends to do better at creating photorealistic images. If you’re looking for a stock photo and you don’t have something too specific in mind, Gemini is probably the tool to go with.

Should I buy a subscription?

For most casual users, the free version of Gemini and ChatGPT probably have everything you need. But for accounting firms looking to upgrade, there are three main subscription contenders, all at roughly $20 USD per month:

Google One has an “AI Premium” tier that includes Gemini Advanced, which integrates with Google Workspace tools like Docs. The Google One subscription also comes with 2TB of storage, a VPN, and 10% off the Google Store.

Microsoft has a Copilot Pro option that integrates OpenAI’s GPT-4 into Microsoft 365 workflows – meaning direct access to generative AI in Excel.

OpenAI has a GPT Plus subscription that gives users priority access to new features, including the new GPT store and integrations with external tools like Canva.

Before you decide, remember that most services offer free trials. Take some time to see how the free models integrate with your workflows. Once you do, you’ll be much better positioned to decide which one warrants an upgrade.

New contenders on the horizon

While Gemini and ChatGPT are taking up most of the airtime in the media these days, there are some interesting new chatbots on the horizon that might give Google and OpenAI a run for their money.

For example, Anthropic’s Claude (created by former OpenAI employees) can summarize attached documents and answer prompts of up to 75,000 words. For accounting firms that want to summarize longer legislative text, this might be the chatbot to try. 

Perplexity, which recently added $70M in funding, has more robust features for searching the web and summarizing results. It also has a paid plan where users can switch between other models like Gemini and GPT-4.

Experimentation is key

Remember: There's no one-size-fits-all solution. Are you looking for creative marketing materials like ChatGPT, logical summaries like Gemini, or data analysis with Microsoft Copilot? Each tool holds unique strengths.

Don't be afraid to experiment! By actively testing and comparing, you'll discover the perfect AI assistant to boost your accounting efficiency and creativity.