Quick selectionStart with ChatGPT or Gemini as a general assistant, Perplexity for source discovery, and the tools you already use—Docs, Sheets, or a local editor—for final work.
A stack by job
| Job | Start with | Use it for | Do not delegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideas and structure | ChatGPT | Outlines, options, and drafts. | Unchecked current facts. |
| Google workflow | Gemini | Documents and ecosystem files. | Permissions and sensitive decisions. |
| Research | Perplexity | Finding sources and related questions. | Final interpretation. |
| Long text | Claude | Reorganization and document comparison. | Legal or financial conclusions. |
| English review | Grammarly | Basic spelling and clarity. | Your intent and professional voice. |
| Delivery | Docs / Sheets | Controlled final version and formulas. | A single copy trapped inside chat. |
Recommended workflow
- Find three primary sources and open each one.
- Give the assistant your notes, audience, and format.
- Draft by section.
- Verify names, numbers, dates, and links.
- Save the final result in your normal editor.
Goal: [result] Audience: [specific person] Allowed sources: [links or text] Format: [table, email, report] Rule: if evidence is missing, mark NEEDS VERIFICATION.
What free really means
A free plan may limit speed, models, files, or advanced features. Treat it as a testing environment. Confirm limits with the provider on the day you publish or buy.
When to pay
- The workflow already succeeds on real cases.
- The free limit interrupts it every week.
- Recovered time is worth at least twice the monthly price.
Seven-day plan
- Choose one general assistant.
- Define one repeated task.
- Measure manual time.
- Run five AI cases.
- Track corrections and errors.
- Document a reusable prompt.
- Keep, replace, or remove the tool.
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