The Landscape
After this drill, you can describe what each AI tool is best at and make a confident decision about which to use for a given task.
Why this matters
Reaching for the wrong tool is the most common beginner mistake in AI-assisted work. It's not that any tool is bad — it's that each tool has a terrain where it excels. Claude handles nuance and long documents. Perplexity cites everything. ChatGPT has the broadest training. Gemini integrates with Google. Grok has real-time internet access. This drill turns vague impressions into a usable mental model.
How to do it
- 1
Use the tool landscape prompt below to interview Claude about the landscape
Claude will give you a structured breakdown of each tool's strengths. Read it carefully.
- 2
Test one claim from Claude's breakdown against your Hello World responses
Claude will probably say something like "Perplexity cites sources." Open your Perplexity response from Drill 0.3 and check: did it cite sources? Verify one claim hands-on.
- 3
Build your Tool Decision Guide
Use the second prompt below to generate a simple reference card: Task → Best Tool. Save it somewhere accessible — you'll reference it throughout the course.
The prompt
I've just created accounts on Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and Perplexity. I want to understand where each tool excels. For each tool, give me: 1. Its single biggest strength 2. The type of task where it consistently outperforms the others 3. One scenario where I should NOT use it (compared to another option) Be concrete and honest. If there's overlap, say so. Format as a table.
Based on what you just told me about the five AI tools, help me build a quick reference card. Create a simple table with three columns: Task Type | Best Tool | Why in one sentence. Include at least these task types: - Research with cited sources - Long document analysis - Writing and editing - Real-time information - Coding help - Quick factual questions - Brainstorming and creativity Add any task types you think are important that I might reach for in my work.
Success criteria
- ✓You can name each tool's primary strength without looking it up
- ✓You have a saved Tool Decision Guide (table or notes)
- ✓You verified at least one claim from Claude's breakdown against your own experience
Common mistakes
Treating the landscape as fixed
→ The AI tool landscape shifts every few months. The Tool Decision Guide is a starting point, not a bible. Revisit it when a tool releases a major update.
Building a Tool Decision Guide that's too theoretical
→ Your guide should reflect YOUR tasks, not a generic list. Add the task types you actually do at work.
Memorizing the guide instead of understanding why
→ The "Why in one sentence" column is the most important column. The why is what transfers to new situations the guide doesn't cover.