Overview
There are many AI platforms online. I’m exploring them using the free
options only. I have not bought any subscriptions yet.
Below are my results and tips so far. My goal is to see what you can
reasonably do for free, and when it makes sense to upgrade.
Writing: ChatGPT (GPT-4 & GPT-5 on free tiers)
This is the tool I use the most for writing, blogging & webpage design. It’s great for:
- Rewriting my own articles for better flow and clarity.
- Turning an outline or even just a title into a full draft.
- Fixing grammar and adjusting tone (casual, friendly, or professional).
- Generating HTML and CSS
(The boxes on this very page were created by ChatGPT and will be adapted for use in the entire website.)
Pros
- Strong at structure and readability.
- Helpful suggestions and quick edits.
- Good at matching a style if you paste a sample.
Cons
- Free plans can be slower at busy times.
- Daily or session limits may stop long tasks.
- Facts may be outdated; you still need to verify.
Paste a paragraph you wrote and say, “Match this style.” Add: word count, audience level, and key points.
Image Generation: Microsoft Copilot & ChatGPT (free plans)
First I tried image generation on the free ChatGPT plan.
It was extremely slow for me. A simple cartoon request (text prompt only, no
photo) took almost a day, and some of my requests never finished. It may
work faster on a paid plan. This was a bust.
I used Microsoft Copilot for free image generation with
mixed results. Making simple cartoons from uploaded family photos worked
well and finished in a minute or two depending on complexity. My niece loved
her cartoon portrait that I posted on Facebook.
However, when I tried to create a network diagram from a text
prompt, the layout looked good but Copilot kept repeating one mistake, even
after I rephrased the prompt many times. Copilot simply couldn't grasp what
I wanted. I ended up using an image editor to manually correct the mistake
before I could use it.
Pros
- Fun, fast results for casual art and simple edits.
- Good at “cartoon-ifying” photos with basic instructions.
- No cost while you experiment.
Cons
- Queues and rate limits can cause long delays.
- Technical diagrams may need manual fixes.
- Free models may have smaller size and stricter content filters.
Paid image/video models exist and are usually better and faster—but some can be expensive. For one-off projects, try the free tier first to see if it meets your needs.
Current Events: Grok
For breaking news and trending topics, Grok has been the
best in my tests. It’s trained to pay attention to posts on X (formerly
Twitter), so it often feels more up-to-date on headlines and public
reactions.
Pros
- Strong at summarizing fast-moving news and commentary.
- Good for reading a variety of quick opinions.
Cons
- Social media sources can be biased or incomplete.
- You still need to check original, reliable sources.
Ask for “multiple viewpoints” and “sources to verify” as part of the same prompt.
Self-Hosted LLMs: Llama 2 & Llama 3.1
I tried running local models for experimentation and website summaries. I
can’t recommend them for most people yet. When I asked for a summary of a
local author’s website, the model attributed the author’s original work to
someone else.
- Llama 2: Feels outdated now.
- Llama 3.1: Better than 2, but still missed important details in my tests.
- Version 4: I have not attempted it yet. It's VERY large and I am not sure I have the memory and processing power to make the attempt.
Why Run Locally?
- Privacy: Your content stays on your own machine and won't be used for training purposes. This is a strong selling point if your dealing with confidental or your own copyrighted materials.
- Offline work: It can be used even if you have no internet or internet is limited.
- Customization: You can add your own documents.
Why It’s Hard
- Hardware need: Using just your CPU-only can be slow; NVIDIA GPUs with at least 8GB+ VRAM help considerably.
- Model size: Larger LLM will consume use more RAM/VRAM and disk space. We recommend at least 32 Gig of RAM, but even more is recommended.
- Quality: Self-Hosting may still lag behind top hosted models that run on MUCH larger systems with hundreds of servers and GPU's. A home user or small business simply can't afford that much hardware.
If you care most about privacy and can handle the setup, local models can be
worth it. For everyday accuracy and speed, hosted AI is usually easier.
(For more background, see my related post #34.)
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Best For | Speed (Free) | Accuracy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT (GPT-4/5) | Writing, editing, structure | Medium to slow at peak | High for style; verify facts | Great for drafts; check sources |
| Microsoft Copilot | Simple images & cartoons | Usually minutes | Good for casual art | Complex diagrams may need edits |
| Grok | Breaking news & trends | Fast | Varies by source | Ask for sources; expect bias |
| Llama (local) | Privacy & offline tests | Varies by hardware | Mixed; can hallucinate | Needs RAM/VRAM; setup time |
General Tips for Better Results
- Be specific: Say the audience (e.g., “high school level”), length, and tone.
- Provide examples: Paste a paragraph of your style to match.
- Chunk big tasks: Free plans have limits—work in sections.
- Verify facts: Ask for sources and check them yourself.
- Save prompts: Keep your best prompts in a doc for reuse.
- Respect privacy: Avoid sharing sensitive data with online models.
- Expect filters: Image tools block some content; rephrase if needed.
When to Consider Paying
- You need faster results and fewer rate limits.
- You want higher-quality image or video generation.
- You rely on current, cited information for work or school.
- You value priority support and advanced features.
Always try the free tier first. If it saves you time or prevents mistakes, a
paid plan can be worth it.
