Explore the latest updates for Claude and ChatGPT, and discover which AI assistant best fits your workflows.
Author: Dr. Sarah Mitchell, Founder & CEO Anadyne IQ
AI assistants have come a long way in just a few years. If you’ve ever found yourself switching between tools like Claude and ChatGPT, wondering which one truly fits your workflows, you're not alone. Both Claude (by Anthropic) and ChatGPT (by OpenAI) have rolled out major updates recently - some groundbreaking, others more subtle.
This guide will break down what sets each tool apart, highlight recent updates, and help you decide which AI assistant best fits your needs.
1. Claude vs ChatGPT at a Glance
By now you'll have heard of ChatGPT, OpenAI’s Artificial Intelligence assistant that has become a go-to tool for many daily tasks - from writing and brainstorming to research and coding. But have you tried Claude? Created by Anthropic, Claude has gained traction among writers, researchers, and businesses for its advanced contextual memory and natural writing style.
As someone who regularly uses both tools, I’ve noticed each has distinct strengths and depending on the task, I’ll often switch between them to find the best result. Here’s a quick comparison between Claude and ChatGPT to get you started:
Feature | Claude | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
Best For | Long documents, writing, and coding | Real-time search, multimedia, automation |
Writing Style | More natural and adaptive | Customisable but sometimes generic |
Real-Time Web Access | ❌ | ✔️ |
Image & Video Generation | ❌ | ✔️ (DALL-E for images, Sora for video) |
Voice Mode | ❌ | ✔️ |
Customisation | Projects, Writing Styles | Projects, Custom GPTs, Scheduled Tasks |
Interactive Editor | Artifacts feature | Canvas |
Automation Potential | Computer Use | Operator |
Pricing | Starts at USD $20/month | USD $20/month, USD$200/month for Pro |
2. Claude's Features & Recent Updates
Things move fast in the AI world, and both Claude and ChatGPT have introduced powerful new features over the past year. In order for you to decide what tool suits you best, you'll need quick rundown of each tool's key updates and features. Get ready, there have been a lot(!) of updates recently.
Here are some key features & updates for Claude:
Claude Projects
Released 26 June 2024
Claude Projects are a super helpful knowledge management feature, enabling you to create a dedicated workspace for a particular topic or project. Within the project you can upload files that Claude will use for context, plus provide detailed instructions on how you want Claude to respond (see image below). Both the context and instructions will be applied for any chat within the Project. I really love this feature, and it was one of the key reasons why I preferred Claude over ChatGPT in mid-2024.
Artifacts
Available to all users on 28 August 2024
A visual workspace for real-time content visualisation and structured outputs like text, code, and data. Great for prototyping and organising information. If you're not familiar, check out the video below.
Computer Use
Released in beta via the API on 23 October 2024
Computer use is an exciting advancement where AI developers can direct Claude to carry out tasks on a computer much like a human would. The AI can take actions such as moving a cursor, clicking buttons, and typing text. Computer use is in an early experimental stage via the API, and not yet ready for commercial use in automating workflows but watch this space - this is the dawn of the AI agent era.
Analysis Tool
Released 25 October 2024
A built-in feature that allows Claude to analyse large datasets, summarise findings, and generate visual reports - ideal for supporting business intelligence and research tasks.
Custom Writing Styles
Released 27 November 2024
Easily tailor Claude’s tone and voice for different types of writing such as formal, explanatory, or concise with the click of a button (see below).
Citations API
API-only feature released 24 January 2025
An API feature that grounds Claude's responses in source documents, leading to more verifiable, trustworthy outputs. Not available via the web user interface.
Claude 3.7 Sonnet
Released 25 February 2025 for all users
This is the first hybrid reasoning model on the market, and Anthropic's most intelligent model to date. In a nutshell, Claude 3.7 offers both near-instant answers and deep reflection responses in one model - just pick the type of response you want. Claude's coding capability has received a boost too.
Claude Code
Released 25 February 2025 as a limited research preview
A new command-line tool designed to assist developers and streamline coding tasks. Claude Code can search and read code, edit files, write and run tests, plus commit and push code to GitHub.
A Few Thoughts:
Claude’s updates focus on creating reliable, structured content while simplifying workflows. Projects keeps related files and instructions in one place, making it easier to manage multiple tasks that share a common topic. Artifacts helps visualise and organise ideas in real time, great for prototyping and refining outputs. Custom writing styles lets you quickly adjust Claude’s tone so it’s easier to get exactly what you need. Claude Code shows a clear commitment to supporting software development workflows. Overall, these features make Claude a solid choice for professionals looking for efficiency, organization, and high-quality responses.
3. ChatGPT's Features & Recent Updates
If you thought Anthropic has been busy with all those Claude updates, lets' check out some of the recent features from OpenAI:
GPT-4o mini
Released 18 July 2024
A highly capable and cost-efficient smaller version of the more powerful GPT-4o model. Designed to support AI application development at a more affordable price. Available to all users through the web interface and API.
o1 Reasoning Models
Announced 12 September 2024
A new series of reasoning models made to handle complex tasks and solve harder problems. They're designed to slow down and think through a problem. o1 models are particularly good for science, coding, and math queries, and perform similarly to PhD students on challenging benchmark tasks.
ChatGPT Search
Announced 31 October 2024, available to all on 5 February 2025
This is a much-needed feature for ChatGPT users and can be thought of as the next generation of web search. Get fast, timely answers to your questions with links to relevant and credible web sources. Enables easy fact-checking to validate AI outputs. ChatGPT will choose to search the web based on what you ask, or you can manually choose web search.
Advanced Voice Mode
Released 19 November 2024 for paid users
Enables real-time, natural conversations with ChatGPT while doing tasks like shopping, planning, writing, and brainstorming. I've found I often need to interrupt and redirect the AI which feels a bit painful, but it is eerily human-sounding and definitely worth tinkering with if you haven't already.
Canvas
Available 10 December 2024 for all users
Canvas allows you to edit and refine documents and code in real time for interactive collaboration with the AI. This feature is similar to Claude's Artifacts, but Canvas includes options for suggested edits, adjusting the length or reading level of your writing, and adding final polish. Canvas can also be used to review, debug and edit code. It's a great feature, but as of early 2025 I'm still finding it a bit buggy.
ChatGPT Projects
Released to all paid users on 13 December 2024
Similar to Claude Projects, this is one of my favourite ChatGPT features which I use nearly every workday. It allows you to group chats, set custom instructions, and upload files to a Project for additional context. So helpful!
Image (DALL-E) and Video (Sora) Generation
Sora was released to paid ChatGPT users 9 December 2024
The much-hyped video generation tool Sora has arrived. It's an AI model that creates realistic videos from text and is included in plans of paid ChatGPT users. ChatGPT also has decent built-in image generation capabilities available to all users with its DALL-E model. However, I'd still recommend using specific image generation tools if you're looking to create advanced images. Freepik's Pikaso and Leonardo.ai are my current favourites.
Scheduled Tasks
Beta released to paid users 14 January 2025
This is a built-in feature that allows you to schedule future tasks and reminders. It's helpful for quick daily summaries such as news briefings, or micro-learning (e.g. learning a new phrase in French each day).
Custom Instructions
Updated 17 January 2025
A set-and-forget way to tailor how ChatGPT responds, and the rules you want it to follow. Great for putting a stop to those cliché AI-generated phrases such as "In the ever-changing landscape..." or "Unleash the power...".
ChatGPT Operator
Research preview released to Pro users on 23 January 2025
Operator is an agent that can "see" your screen and use mouse and keyboard actions to perform tasks for you. Akin to Claude's Computer Use, think typing, clicking, and scrolling through webpages to book travel tickets or order groceries. It's one of OpenAI's first agents, which is a type of AI that can independently execute tasks. Initial feedback indicates Operator is slow and buggy, but this tech is definitely a sign of what's to come.
Deep Research
Released to Pro users on 2 February 2025, available to paid users next.
Deep research is an agent designed for solving multi-step problems and complex reasoning. It's perfect for people who do intense knowledge work and need precise and reliable research. Think research roles in finance, engineering, science, and policy.
ChatGPT-4.5
Released 27 February 2025, available to Pro, Plus & Team users 6 March.
GPT-4.5 is OpenAI's largest and most advanced chat model to date. It has a broader knowledge base and improved ability to draw connections, recognise patterns, and generate creative insights without reasoning.
A Few Thoughts:
Phew, that was a lot! Are you overwhelmed by ChatGPT's endless stream of updates? I sure am. But it's all quite remarkable too. ChatGPT’s features focus on versatility and customization, making it an excellent tool for productivity, creativity, and research. Real-time web search ensures you have up-to-date information with credible sources, while Canvas helps you edit and refine content interactively. Projects keeps your chats, files, and instructions organized, and Scheduled Tasks automates daily workflows. For those who need even more control, Custom Instructions and the ability to create Custom GPTs allow you to personalize responses and workflows to match your exact needs. Add in DALL-E and Sora for multimedia content, and you’ve got a powerful all-in-one assistant.
4. ChatGPT vs Claude, Which One Should You Choose?
Now if you could only choose one, here's my recommendation:
Use Claude if you:
Work with complex documents that need to be accurately interpreted.
Prefer minimal prompting with a natural, human-like writing style.
Want robust outputs for reports, analysis, or coding using tools like Artifacts.
Prioritize data privacy and security, with a focus on internal collaboration.
Use ChatGPT if you:
Want a highly versatile assistant for creative, research, and multimedia tasks.
Need real-time web access for up-to-date information and fact-checking.
Plan to combine text, image, and video generation (DALL-E and Sora).
Appreciate customisable workflows with Canvas, Scheduled Tasks, and Projects.
But here is the deal: no single AI tool is going to meet all your requirements.
Let me explain: you can think of AI tools a bit like streaming platforms. Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ all offer a various selection of TV shows and movies. Whilst very similar, each platform has their own style and distinct offering. You might choose to only use one, you might use them all, or you might swap between them. Either way, it comes down to personal preference and budget.
The world of AI tools is no different. This is why many users, myself included, find value in using both tools. Don't be afraid of these AI assistants, there are so many things they can help you with. Experiment and play with them to see which one you like. The great thing is both have free versions. Consider cycling between subscriptions or maintaining both, depending on your needs and budget. Remember, the goal is to enhance your productivity and creativity – choose the tool(s) that best help you achieve that.
A Rapid Evolution
One more thought: the competition between Claude and ChatGPT (and other AI assistants) drives rapid innovation that benefits the end users - you and me. With each new iteration of these tools, we're seeing constantly evolving features and capability, often leagues ahead of previous versions. So, you've tried out ChatGPT or Claude in the past and were underwhelmed with the outputs, it might be time to take a second look - I think you'll be surprised by what you'll be able to achieve.
Today's AI is the worst you will ever use
Ethan Mollick, Co-Director of the Generative AI Lab at The Wharton School
5. Getting Started
Getting started with Claude or ChatGPT is really easy: just navigate to their website (links below), create a free account, and start a conversation with the AI.
Get started with Claude: https://claude.ai/
Get started with ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/
Not sure what to ask it? Tell the AI a bit about yourself and your job, and then ask it for suggestions on how it might be able to help you. For a detailed guide on how to get the most out of ChatGPT’s features, read our Getting Started with ChatGPT post. With a little bit of experimentation and practice, you'll soon find yourself using AI to assist you with all sorts of tasks, particularly the boring ones you don't enjoy.
One small note, take care with the information you give to the AI. Keep it clear of personal, confidential, and proprietary information (think bank account details, health info, company finance data), as your data may be used to train the model.
If you have any questions about getting started, just send me a message at hello@anadyneiq.com and I'll be happy to give you a hand.
Here at Anadyne IQ, we're all about making AI less complicated. Whether you're interested in working with Claude, ChatGPT, or other AI solutions, we've got you covered. Our expert-led no-fuss AI workshops are designed to boost your practical skills, build your confidence, and show you how to apply AI tools effectively and responsibly.
Wondering how AI could transform your business? Let's chat! Reach out for a no-pressure discovery call to learn how our practical AI workshops and consulting services can help you streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and spark innovation.
This article was originally published in August 2024. The most recent update was March 2025.
