Find your perfect AI assistant based on your needs, budget, and privacy requirements.
See how different users choose the right AI for their specific needs.
Model: ChatGPT
Level: ChatGPT Go ($8/month)
💡 Fits the $8/month budget directly. Upgrades usage capacity, file uploads, and image creation over the free tier without paying $20/month.
Model: Claude
Level: Claude Pro ($20/month)
💡 Meets the $20/month budget and provides Claude's 1-million-token context window to process hundreds of pages or multi-hour transcripts without losing track of details.
Model: Perplexity
Level: Perplexity Free ($0/mo)
💡 Free option that connects to live web search to fetch local data (e.g., Plano, TX) with cited, sourced references for verification.
Model: DeepSeek
Level: API / Pay-as-you-go (~$0.028/1M tokens)
💡 Offers low-cost token pricing (~$0.028 per 1M tokens) for processing millions of words via API with high privacy through self-hosting options.
Model: Claude
Level: Claude Team ($20/seat/month)
💡 Built specifically for team collaboration (5+ members) on heavy document workflows with privacy guarantees, administrative controls, and ecosystem integrations.
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DeepSeek is the most cost-disruptive, offering a flagship model for free with no subscription required. For paid plans, ChatGPT Go at $8/month is the most affordable entry point for small businesses needing more than the basic free limits.
On free tiers, your data may be used for training. To protect sensitive business info, use Claude Team or ChatGPT Business, which guarantee by default that your content is not used to train their models.
Absolutely not. AI can "hallucinate"—stating false info as fact with high confidence. It should never replace human judgment on high-stakes business liabilities like commercial leases or tax contracts.
You can use transcription tools like Tactiq to transcribe Google Meet or Zoom calls in real-time. Once the call ends, you simply export the transcript and paste it directly into your preferred AI for instant summaries.
No. Individual plans like ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro are single-user only. For team access, you'll need a Team or Business plan, which usually requires a minimum of 2 to 5 users.
Claude is used for our live builds because its free tier includes Projects and Artifacts, allowing you to save your business context and build interactive tools without a credit card. It also has a strong track record for honest, careful responses — which matters when you're learning. That said, the best AI tool is the one that fits your workflow and budget.
Part of the UC AI Literacy Program · 2026 Edition
Data sources: OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity, DeepSeek pricing benchmarks