For many years, Google was the number 1 way we searched for information on the internet, but the introduction of AI tools has changed that, and ChatGPT is the most famous tool championing the movement.

So, the question now is: between Google Search and ChatGPT, which one should you use?

Well, the answer is both. They are both effective tools that work best in different cases. Hence, you just need to know the best scenarios they work in and when to use each one.

That’s what we will be talking about in this article.

Let’s get right into it.  

When Should You Use ChatGPT?

• To Brainstorm Ideas

If you want to do creative work and you are looking for fresh ideas, ChatGPT is the tool that can help you through the brainstorming process. For example, if you are looking for ideas for blog or social media content, you can use the tool to speed up your ideation process. 

• To Create Outlines

Having an idea and knowing how to structure the content are two different things. With ChatGPT, you can create outlines that can guide your content creation process and help you get rid of creative blocks. 

With the tool, you won’t need to worry about writer’s block anymore. It can provide you with blog briefs and outlines, email drafts, marketing angles, and sales scripts, among others. 

• To Create and Rewrite Content

If you don’t want to create the content by yourself, you can query the tool to create the content for you. You just need to use proper prompting to guide it on the voice, concept, and format it will use.

In addition to that, you can use it to rewrite content that has already been created. 

Bear in mind that the tool can make mistakes, so after it has finished creating the content, make sure you fact-check it and edit it to sound human and less generic. 

• To Explain Complex Topics 

When you search for a question on Google, it gives you a brief overview and then displays several links that you can click on and read through. Going through these links to gain a better understanding could take a while.

That’s where ChatGPT comes in.

With the AI tool, you can get direct and in-depth explanations about any complex topic in a very short time. It is also a conversational tool, so you can ask it to personalize your answers in any way you deem fit. 

For example, you can ask it to “Explain SEO to me like I am a 10-year-old”. 

You can’t do this on Google Search.

• To Summarise Bulky Documents

Students and busy professionals can use ChatGPT to summarise bulky and lengthy documents without having to go through the stress of endlessly scrolling through numerous pages. 

The tool can scan the document, tell you what it is all about, and save you time and energy. 

• For Coding and Analytical Tasks

Google Search is limited to just providing answers to search queries, but ChatGPT goes beyond that. The tool can help you carry out coding and analytical tasks even if you are a beginner who has no prior knowledge in the field.

Imagine not having to hire someone to analyze data or sort out a coding issue for you because you have an AI tool on your device that can do it for you.  

When Should You Use Google Search?

• To Verify Specific Information and Links

If ChatGPT writes either blog or academic content for you and you need to verify the sources to check whether the links are accurate or not, Google Search is the tool you will use. 

You see how they work together, right? 

The AI tool can write or rewrite content for you, but when it’s time to fact-check official websites, news outlets, reports, or studies, Google Search is the go-to tool.

• For Live News and Updates

AI tools like ChatGPT can’t provide you with real-time information, but Google can. The search engine pulls live data from websites and makes it possible for its users to access it.

So, if you are looking for live sports scores, the latest news updates, weather updates, stock prices, and flight schedules, you can only get them on Google.  

• To Compare Products

You can get product recommendations from ChatGPT, but if you want to compare the products based on reviews, ratings, user feedback, and price comparisons, then you will need to use Google for that.

• For Local Search 

Google can help you get accurate information about local businesses around you, including working hours, prices, reviews, contact info, etc. It can also provide you with local maps that can help you find the businesses that are close to you.

ChatGPT can’t access your location, so it can’t give local recommendations as accurately as Google does.

Final Thoughts

ChatGPT and Google Search are both great tools that serve different purposes, so the question shouldn’t be which one is better. The question should be: when should I use them?

Now that you have learned the best time to use each of these tools, stop comparing them and start using them both to get the best results.