ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini… Ever wonder which AI chatbot is best for language professionals?

I have – and I’ve spent the last few years exploring their differences, similarities, and which tasks they’re best suited for. 🤓

In this article, I’ll provide an overview of the leading chatbots – along with use cases, pros and cons – to help you choose the right one for you!

What to know about AI chatbots

Before we dive into comparisons, let’s start with the basics.

AI chatbots are everywhere now, and for good reason – they’re fast, intuitive, and versatile. Talking to one feels like texting a friend (except this friend replies instantly 😆).

Whether you need help brainstorming ideas, summarizing a document, or drafting an email, an AI chatbot can do the heavy lifting for you.

So, how do they work?

Chatbots run on large language models (LLMs), which are trained on vast amounts of text to understand and generate human-like responses. Some use a single LLM, while others combine different models to improve their results.

If you haven’t tried AI chatbots yet, now’s the time. While they won’t replace you anytime soon, they will make your life easier!

Comparing the three leading AI chatbots

Best AI chatbots 2025: ChatGPT vs. Copilot vs. Gemini – strengths, integrations, and use cases for language professionals. — *Which AI chatbot is best? A side-by-side comparison of ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini for productivity and language tasks.*

There are dozens of AI chatbots, but in this post, I’ll focus on the big three: ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini.

They’re user-friendly, packed with handy features, and powered by some of the most advanced AI models available. Oh, and they don’t just chat — they can generate tables, analyze documents, and more. No wonder they keep popping up on “best AI tools” lists.

Let’s see what they can do!

ChatGPT

Available on web, mobile, and desktop, ChatGPT is the original AI chatbot and a favorite among techforword insiders and friends.

Take tech trainer Nora Díaz, for example: “ChatGPT is my main tool for general use and for certain custom tasks via Custom GPTs.” Or translator Nicte Cicero: “I use ChatGPT more than any other tool.”

ChatGPT helps not only with work-specific needs — like answering complex questions, researching definitions, synonyms, and collocations — but also speeds up everything else, from drafting emails to brainstorming copy.

One techforword insider swears by ChatGPT for summarizing texts; another is using it to refresh old website copy based on AI-generated feedback.

Corinne McKay, translator, interpreter, and founder of Training for Translators, shared this interesting use case in her newsletter:

“I was recently assigned to interpret a speech on the erosion of trust in public institutions in X country, and the slides were pretty bare-bones. I asked ChatGPT, ‘I’m an interpreter, and I have to interpret a speech on the erosion of trust in public institutions in X country. Can you think of some recent news events the speaker might mention?’ It came back with three suggestions, and the speaker mentioned two of them.”

(You can check out her other use cases here.)

My take on ChatGPT for translation tasks

ChatGPT’s biggest advantage? It deftly handles a variety of tasks. It also supports multiple file formats, has a natural-sounding Voice Mode (still in beta), can provide sources when browsing is enabled, and enables power users to create Custom GPTs for tailored workflows. Plus, it updates and evolves its feature set quickly – one nifty new addition is the built-in Canvas word processor.

The downsides? While it can analyze web pages, it doesn’t always handle them well — especially if they’re paywalled or complex. And it has a knowledge cutoff, meaning the default results may not be the most up-to-date, especially if you don’t activate the Search mode.

Copilot

Microsoft Copilot is available as a standalone web app (on desktop and mobile) and an AI companion on Microsoft products like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the Edge browser.

As described here, I’ve used Copilot for everything from catching up with current affairs and researching technical topics to building glossaries and analyzing images. Its research capabilities are similar to ChatGPT’s (both run on OpenAI’s LLMs), but Copilot has also been trained on additional Microsoft data.

My favorite thing about Copilot is its ability to analyze documents and webpages. If a client sends you a lengthy PDF right before a job, just open it in Copilot to quickly summarize content or extract key terminology – really useful for last-minute prep!

It also handles parallel documents well: open them in separate tabs to extract key terms from both. And if you work in-house, you might already have a Copilot Pro subscription, which may be better for data protection.

My take on Copilot for translation tasks

If you’re already using Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot is an obvious choice. It’s a good companion for drafting documents in Word, analyzing data in Excel, and tightening up presentations in PowerPoint. But even if you’re not a Microsoft user, Copilot is still worth it just for its ability to make sense of documents and webpages in Edge.

The downside? Copilot covers fewer file formats than ChatGPT and is primarily designed for the Microsoft ecosystem.

Gemini

Google Gemini (available on the web, mobile, and through Google Cloud) is deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem. You’ll find it in Search, Maps, and YouTube, and built into Docs, Sheets, and Gmail.

As described here, I’ve used Gemini for researching technical topics. It’s my go-to research tool for two key reasons:

Since it pulls data from Google Search and other Google services, including Maps and YouTube, its results tend to be more contextually relevant and up-to-date.

I also appreciate how it cites sources and offers the option to double-check results for accuracy.

Beyond research, Gemini can edit emails and create calendar events – handy for streamlining workflows. And a Google One subscription brings the power of Gemini right into Gmail, Docs, and more.

My take on using Gemini as a language professional

If your work revolves around Google’s ecosystem, adding Gemini to the mix is a no-brainer – it integrates seamlessly with tools like Search, Docs, and Gmail to streamline your workflows. But even if you’re not all-in on Google, Gemini is still a research powerhouse. Because it leverages Google’s search capabilities, proprietary datasets, and its own LLM (distinct from OpenAI’s models), it delivers unique results, up-to-date insights, and meticulous source citations.

The downsides? Like ChatGPT, it may struggle with URLs, and some neat features that were once free are now locked behind the premium version, Gemini Advanced. Also, Gems – Gemini’s take on Custom GPTs – are still in their early stages.

Find the best AI chatbots for your needs

ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini all excel at text summarization, basic research, and drafting tasks, and they each offer a free tier. While their features overlap, here’s what stands out in each one:

Copilot is a no-brainer for Microsoft users (and great for summarizing PDFs on Edge).
Gemini is great for those embedded in the Google ecosystem (and excellent for research, too).
ChatGPT offers broad capabilities and customization options with Custom GPTs (and is the best choice for in-depth conversation and AI voices).

When choosing your all-purpose chatbot, consider your workflow and which ecosystem you’re already tied into. But don’t feel like you have to commit to just one! As I’ve shown here, each has its sweet spot, so why not use them together to get the best results?

Before you start experimenting with these powerful tools, there are two crucial points to keep in mind.

When using any AI chatbot, always, always protect your information.

And finally, keep your critical thinking hat on. AI chatbots are incredible tools, but they’re just that – tools. The real magic comes from using our human brains to take what they give us and improve it. ✨

AI Chatbots: Which Are Best for Language Professionals in 2025?