TGL Tested: Our Takes on the Hottest AI Tools
We’re excited to introduce TGL Tested, our new series exploring the newest and trendiest digital marketing tools for tasks including skills such as video editing, email marketing, and website design. We’ve tested them so you don’t have to, so you’ll know what’s worth trying and what can be ignored.
This week we’re diving into three popular AI tools, and why we use them. Here at TGL, each team member has a unique work style tailored to our roles and our client’s goals, but there's some interesting overlap in how some of us use the same tool for different purposes.
ChatGPT
We’re sure everyone has heard about ChatGPT by now, but if not here's a quick overview. Almost a year old, ChatGPT is a language model that takes a text input and delivers a human-like response. From crafting imaginative text to answering an infinite array of questions, ChatGPT is an adaptable resource that can be used for just about anything–with some major caveats.
The free version limits you to using the GPT-3.5 model, while the paid version, at $20 a month, uses the GPT-4 model, granting you access to input larger text and receive images. To learn more about which option might be better for you, check out this resource.
Something to keep in mind before you decide to start playing around with ChatGPT is that its knowledge cutoff is January 2022. So, if you plan on asking a specific question about current events or test it out for media monitoring, save that for a search engine or another tool.
Tested by: Media Monitoring Specialist, Aaron Maisler
“ChatGPT is the best for general use. None of these AIs perform well for writing blogs, so I don't use them for that. However, for answering simple questions and being a real-time sounding board for ideas, they can be very helpful. ChatGPT gives the most useful responses when posing a question. For general information, it's definitely the better platform to consult. Unfortunately, ChatGPT's training data is limited to January 2022, so its responses can be dated—particularly pertaining to newer technologies or ideas. GPT -4 is quite a bit better than GPT -3.5 in my opinion. Custom GPTs are probably going to be a game-changer for a lot of tasks as they have access to web browsing and other customization options that aren't available natively. You can also upload your own files/data to the custom GPTs and have it pull from that.”
Tested by: Slice author and Social Media Coordinator, Jade Martin
“I mainly use ChatGPT for blog inspiration. If I ever run into a mental block where I know what I want to say but don’t know how to say it or format it correctly, ChatGPT to the rescue! Unlike Aaron, I believe that this tool can be great for blog writers if used with a collaborative mindset. What I usually do is input a few sentences on what I’d like to cover in the blog and ask the AI to create a structure for the blog. This includes how many sections and what each section should cover, creating a seamless blend of all the information.”
Tested by: Freelance Writer and Editor, Rebecca Coates
“I've used ChatGPT to help me generate ideas for evergreen social media posts. Of course, I go in and tweak them, but it's very helpful when I've hit a wall in writing social copy I've also used it to organize and outline longer writing projects, such as articles or blog posts.”
One thing you should note when using ChatGPT for any type of writing is to edit, edit, edit. AI at its core is, well… artificial! And, since this tool is pulling content from other sources, you may inadvertently end up copying other writers by using text ChatGPT or other AI tools. So it’s important to review and revise any text that might be lacking human emotion, check everything for accuracy (because ChatGPT, as you’re probably aware, has a big problem with making up information and citing false sources), and copy-edit with a keen eye.
Otter
We all need breaks sometimes, but missing important meetings can be overwhelming. Enter Otter, a versatile meeting companion. Otter can be synced with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Dropbox, Google Calendar/Outlook, or even your Amazon Alexa, to transcribe meeting audio in real time.
Now, about those plans. There's a free one to dip your toes in that offers standard features. The Pro plan is for you if you find yourself in back-to-back meetings and sometimes have trouble keeping up. It allows team features and advanced search perks. For important analytics, the Business plan serves up insights and unlimited imports. And if your organization needs even more support, the Enterprise plan steps in with top-tier security, control, and support.
Otter isn't just limited to your computer as you can also download it on IOS and Android, which is a great feature if you’re joining a meeting away from your usual workspace. There is real-time collaboration too that synches smoothly with Slack. It's like having a reliable friend in your meetings, making sure you and your team are always in the loop, no matter where you are.
One thing our clients have asked is “Why does the Otter pilot show up to meetings before anyone else?” We have answers and a solution for you if that’s not something you're comfortable with. Once synced with (for example) Zoom, Otter will be in the meeting at the exact scheduled time making for easier to use in case you’re running late or forget to add Otter to the call.But you can turn this off; go to Account Settings > Meetings and toggle off Auto-join all meetings.
We love this feature because if there is an important upcoming meeting next month we’re able to sync Otter with any calendar app of our choosing and we won't have to worry about it when the time comes!
Tested by: Senior Project Manager, Renee Tate
“I love Otter Pilot, my favorite note-taking app! It helps me focus on conversations without worrying about taking notes. The interface is user-friendly, and it works great for Zoom and Microsoft Team meetings. During the call, Otter Pilot takes a transcript, records audio, and even captures screen sharing. I can easily edit the transcript if needed and share it with the team. I upgraded to the pro account for longer transcription minutes, so now I can use it for meetings of all lengths. Otter Pilot helps us keep everyone on the same page and streamlines information sharing, making us more efficient at meeting client needs.”
Google Bard
Google Bard, or simply Bard, launched in March of this year, is an experimental tool that uses the power of Pathways Language Model 2 (PaLM 2). It yields text generation, language translation, creative content crafting, and insightful answers to questions. Bard sets a new standard in AI chat by incorporating relevant links and providing source links when quoting or paraphrasing from texts.
Although the Google AI team is currently developing paid plans for Bard, the tool remains in the developmental phase and is available for free. While Bard shares similarities with ChatGPT, there are nuanced differences between the two that set them apart making them competitors. For a detailed comparison, refer to this source, which includes a helpful diagram illustrating the distinctions.
Tested by: Media Monitoring Specialist Aaron Maisler
“Google Bard's biggest advantage is access to the Google ecosystem. It can pull responses from Google searches, and create solutions for products using the Google platform. While the responses aren't quite as good in terms of general conversation, it provides better technical solutions for Google products. For example, if I wanted to create a script to automate something in Google Sheets, Bard would be my choice, hands down.”
Tested by: Slice author and Social Media Coordinator Jade Martin
“I’ve solely been sticking to ChatGPT for my AI chatting needs, but when experimenting with Bard I’ve been enjoying the sourcing feature. It adds flare to the answer to my question as I can then go check out the link they sourced part of their response from for more intel. I also feel more freedom with Bard than ChatGPT as I don’t have to worry about a knowledge cutoff and can ask more real-time questions requiring up-to-date information.”
If you're curious to learn more about the TGL team and what we do or want to get more familiar with the voices behind these suggestions, check out our team page. And let us know in the comments below what other tools we should try!