ChatGPT vs Google: Which Gives Correct Information?

ChatGPT has become a strong competitor to Google. I guess that’s why you’re here to read a ChatGPT vs Google comparison to decide which platform is best to get accurate and reliable information.

I have been using Google for over 10 years now, and I was one of the early birds to explore ChatGPT after OpenAI made it available for public use on November 30, 2023.

So, I’m here to compare both platforms looking at their features, how they work, pros and cons, and above all help you decide which is most reliable for correction information based on my experience. 

Highlights of ChatGPT vs Google Comparison 

• You can rely on Google for accurate information and not ChatGPT.
• Google provides real-time information, but ChatGPT doesn’t.
• Google cites sources for the information it provides on search results, but ChatGPT doesn’t.
• ChatGPT can write code for you, but Google can’t.
• Google is free, while ChatGPT will soon have a premium version that will charge a few dollars.
• ChatGPT and Google are multilingual.
• ChatGPT generates text type of content while Google gives image, text, and video results in SERPs.
• Google has a superb filtering option, but ChatGPT doesn’t.
• Google sees articles written with ChatGPT as AI content. This affects the ranking of the article on search results.
• ChatGPT runs on the GPT-3 model, while Google is powered by sophisticated algorithms.

 Features Of ChatGPT & Google 

Let’s look at the features of each of these platforms.

Features Of ChatGPT 

• Runs on GPT-3 AI Model
• Operates as a conversational tool
• Multilingual – response to chats in different languages apart from English
• Has good memory of the previous conversation
• Speedy response to chats
• Can write and debug code

Features Of Google 

• Top-rate search engine
• Provides results for image, video, book, news, and map searches
• You can perform searches in different languages
• You can toggle between different web pages at the same time
• Uses keywords to pick and serve web pages that can best satisfy user intent
• Guides users to learn more about a topic by suggesting queries previous searchers performed

Pros of ChatGPT 

• It’s free to use, and you don’t see any advertisements 
• Works seamlessly on any smart device
• The user interface is beginner-friendly 
• Speedy response to chat
• Can write code 
• Keeps good memory of previous prompts
• Allows you to provide follow-up corrections 
• Declines inappropriate requests

Cons of ChatGPT

• Generates misleading information sometimes 
• Content can sometimes be biased to suit a certain narrative 
• Has no knowledge of events beyond 2021
• Error messages sometimes occur, and you have to reload to continue using it

Pros of Google 

• Provides 95% accurate information with sources for you to confirm yourself
• Serves content in different formats like text, URL, images, videos, books, maps, etc 
• Up-to-date with events
• Excellent filtering options
• No error messages unless the ranking page it served has technical issues

Cons of Google 

• You get interrupted by an advertisement
• Privacy policy issues as your activities on Google can be shared with third-parties
• You have to click on pages and wait for them to load

ChatGPT vs Google: The Difference

Google and ChatGPT aren’t the same. There are differences which I will show you.

1. Real-Time Information 

ChatGPT doesn’t have knowledge of events that happen beyond 2021 and that limits you to the information you can get from it.

For example, I asked it:

Which country won the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Below is its response:

Whether OpenAI is working to update it with real-time data is what we haven’t heard.

Google updates with real-time information around the world. It can even tell how events in the coming years are being planned. 

I asked Google the same question I asked ChatGPT, and below is the result I got:

If you look at the result, you will see that Google gave the answer as Argentina as pulled from Wikipedia. A featured snippet even explained how Argentina and France scored goals. 

To test Google’s knowledge of future events, I asked it: 

Which country will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

From the screenshot, you can see that Google answered in the featured snippet stating that it’s US, Canada & Mexico. It even went ahead to indicate that it will be a joint hosting for the 3 North American countries.

2. Accuracy & Reliability 

ChatGPT sometimes gives inaccurate or misleading information, which makes it unreliable. Even OpenAI admits this in its disclaimer that pops up after signing up to use this AI conversational tool. Its AI runs on the GPT-3 model and so there are limitations in pulling accurate, updated, and well-researched information. 

To make matters worse, it doesn’t cite sources at least to build the trust of the user.

 That’s why I won’t use ChatGPT to generate content related to health to avoid any harm.

Google gives 95% accurate information which you can rely on to take action. Web pages that rank for target keywords cite research, surveys, statistics, etc. to back up any claim they made. This is what is lacking in ChatGPT. 

Its algorithm factors in EEAT (Experience Expertise Authority & Trust) when ranking web pages on search results. This is why authority websites dominate SERPs for topics related to what they do. 

For example, I searched on Google ‘ How to Prevent High Blood Pressure” 

From the result, you can see that top-rated websites in health like CDC.gov, Healthline.com, Mayoclinic, and Medline Plus dominate the SERPs. 

This is because Google’s algorithm trusts them for accurate and reliable information relating to human health.

If I’m to score both based on accurate information, ChatGPT has 60% while Google has 95%. 

3. Type Of Content 

ChatGPT displays only text information for now. No images or videos, which makes it boring. Google shows images, videos, news, maps, and book results.

This gives the user options to see different forms of results for queries. Plus, there is a powerful filtering option to refine your search. 

4. Nature Of Platforms

ChatGPT is an AI conversational tool like Jasper Chat, while Google is a search engine that has no strong competitor. 

People use ChatGPT like they are chatting with family and friends on FB messenger or Instagram DM. 

That’s different on Google, where you use keywords to search for information and in turn click on pages that appear in search results to satisfy your intent. 

5. Writing Of Code

If you need a basic line of code to fix issues on your website but can’t write it, call ChatGPT and it will do it. 

For example, I ask it to write a code that changes the headline of my WordPress site to ” You Can Do It”

Here is the screenshot of the response:

I went further to ask it to explain how I can use it:

So you can call ChatGPT ” Your little programmer”

Google can write code for you. 

If you can ask, you will see pages that teach you how to write code on SERPs. 

6. Usability 

ChatGPT is easy to use, and you get the information almost instantly. The signing-up process is fast, the user interface is beginner-friendly, and you don’t have to be tech-savvy to use it. 

To use Google, you have to visit Google.com from any browser or download Google Chrome from your store. This is a bit stressful. It also requires knowing how to perform searches and refine your query for the algorithm to serve you the best results to satisfy your intent. Upon that, you have to click and read content on two or three pages to get the best information that will solve your problem. So, for usability, I give it to ChatGPT.

Similarities – ChatGPT vs Google 

Both platforms share common features that are what mentioning in this comparison.

1. Use of Artificial Intelligence 

Google and ChatGPT use artificial intelligence to process information and serve it to their target users.

ChatGPT runs on GPT-3 and also combines NLP and other advanced machine learning models to generate quality responses to users. Google has its bots which are also AI that crawl, index, and rank content that users see on SERPs. 

2. Has Other Related Products 

ChatGPT has other products like DALL-E, an AI image generator that competes with Jasper Art. 

Let’s assume you intend to use ChatGPT to create blog posts, emails, or any other type of text content. You can use DALL-E to generate images that will complement them.

Google has other products like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Google Sheets, Google Docs, and many other products that are useful to webmasters and non-webmasters. 

For example, an SEO who owns a site can use Google Analytics to track performance, while someone that doesn’t own a site can use Google Docs to create a document. 

Note: Google has over 50 different products.

Cost of using Google vs ChatGPT 

Google is free. The parent company, Alphabet, has no plans to ask you and me to pay to use their platform. Although, it makes money through Adwords. 

You see ads on Google when you search for particular keywords, as I did in the screenshot below:

So you indirectly generate money for Google while you perform queries.

ChatGPT is free for now, but OpenAI has plans to monetize it. Sam Altman the CEO of OpenAI in a December 2022 tweet hinted that they will charge users citing that the computing cost is eye-watering. 

On January 11, 2023, Greg Brockman tweeted that they are working on the premium version of ChatGPT.

So, prepare to spend a few dollars if you want to enjoy the advanced version of ChatGPT. 

ChatGPT Google Chrome Extension: How To Install & Use It

OpenAI, in a bid to ensure that ChatGPT users can access this AI conversational tool from their browser, developed their chrome extension. It’s free to use and below is how to use it.

• Go to Chrome Web Store 
• Search for ChatGPT on the space bar ( it has 50k+ downloads).
• Install it ( it takes a few seconds).
• Look at your chrome extension icon at the right top of your browser on PC, open it, and you will see the ChatGPT chrome extension. Click and pin it, so it will be visible on your browser.
• To use it, click on the chrome extension, and it will open on your PC for you to ask ChatGPT any question. The interface is the same as when you login to the website to assess it.

What Is ChatGPT Used For?

ChatGPT is used for generating information from AI in a conversational tone. It’s like asking a friend to explain something to you. You can use it to write blog posts, books, emails, sales copy, poems, stories, etc.

Is ChatGPT A Threat To Google?

ChatGPT isn’t a threat to Google, and can’t be. Google is the best search engine that many users trust for accurate and verifiable information. Even ChatGPT feeds its users with information that exists on search engines like Google.

ChatGPT can’t give real-time information, while Google can. There are a lot of differences that give Google a strong edge over ChatGPT. One of them is the ability to cite sources of information and offer different forms of content.

How Do I Use ChatGPT?

Just sign up with your email address and other details. Login into your account and ask ChatGPT what anything you want, provided it isn’t something that happened beyond 2022.

Is ChatGPT Free?

It’s free for now, but OpenAI will soon launch its premium version, which will cost you money to use.

Conclusion

AI conversational tools like ChatGPT look revolutionary, but can’t be compared to search engines like Google. 

Looking at the differences and similarities I showed you in this article, you will discover you have to verify any sensitive information ChatGPT generates to ensure it’s accurate. 

It generates only text, and you can’t count on it for real-time information. 

95% of the information Google provides in search results is correct, it cites sources and uses E-E-A-T to decide which pages should appear top on SERPs.

Here is my recommendation:

 If you’re looking for an AI conversational tool that responds to casual questions you ask, go for ChatGPT. 

Choose Google if you want detailed and accurate information with verifiable sources.