Main Insights
- Specialized chatbots require minimal prompting skills compared to ChatGPT, which allows for precise and accurate answers.
- Niche chatbots only draw information from relevant sources and frequently offer additional functionalities.
- The answers provided by niche chatbots are consistently formatted, making them easier to comprehend and ensuring that no significant information is overlooked.
Many of the AI chatbots available online leverage ChatGPT (or versions like GPT-3 and GPT-4 from OpenAI). Nonetheless, I find that these specialized chatbots outperform ChatGPT for several reasons.
1 Minimal Prompting Skills Required
To maximize the benefits of ChatGPT, it’s essential to learn how to write effective prompts. While it is possible to “jailbreak” ChatGPT with the right prompts, mastering this skill takes considerable practice.
If you’re not particularly adept at crafting prompts, using specialized chatbots is a wise choice. These bots are designed to deliver specific outputs, reducing the need for prompt experimentation.
Furthermore, some chatbots, such as AI Lawyer, come with a built-in library of prompts for common tasks.
2 Niche Chatbots Rely on Relevant Sources
While ChatGPT has been trained on a vast amount of data and can browse the internet, it can sometimes produce responses that stray from relevant sources.
In contrast, developers can limit niche chatbots to leverage strictly selected information sources for their answers. For instance, Buffett Bot answers based exclusively on Warren Buffett’s past letters, meetings, and interviews, always citing its sources.
3 Responses Are Consistently Formatted
Specialized AI chatbots often respond in a standardized manner, ensuring that essential details are not overlooked and responses remain easy to read.
For instance, when I asked both ChatGPT and AI Lawyer for guidance on creating a car purchase agreement, ChatGPT provided more general content, while AI Lawyer shared a thorough breakdown with step-by-step instructions, including necessary elements and considerations.
Similarly, when I inquired about drafting rental and employment contracts, AI Lawyer’s replies followed a consistent format, which was much clearer compared to ChatGPT’s less structured responses.
You can customize ChatGPT’s responses using custom instructions, but if you employ it for varied tasks, you’ll find yourself changing those instructions frequently.
4 They Provide Extra Features
As these chatbots are tailored for specific functions, they typically come with additional features that enhance their utility for particular tasks.
For instance, many AI companion chatbots, such as Anima, provide options to customize avatars and offer various games and activities. In contrast, ChatGPT lacks these specialized add-ons due to its general-purpose nature.
While I frequently utilize ChatGPT as a multi-functional chatbot, I find specialized AI chatbots more effective for specific tasks. If you’re hesitant to step away from ChatGPT, consider exploring various custom GPTs, which can work from a designated knowledge base, follow defined instructions, and do not require extensive prompting skills.
