#23 | Pick the best AI model instantly (any task)

👋 Hi there,

Quickly imagine this: it’s early afternoon. You discover a fancy coffee shop and think, “Let’s see what they offer.” Then it happens.

The menu is a dissertation. Cold brew. Nitro-infused. Oat-milk macchiatos. Some foamy monstrosity called a ‘cloud latte.’

So, what do you do? Chances are you stick to what you know.

But—what if the ideal option was right under your nose all along?

Choosing the right AI model is like this coffee shop dilemma (a bit at least.)

It was simpler when ChatGPT was the obvious choice. But now?

AI models are piling up like an overstocked café menu: GPT-4.5, Claude 3.7, Gemini 2.0, Perplexity AI, Venice AI, Mistral, and DeepSeek.

And new ones keep dropping.

And the kicker? Every AI has a catch.

• Claude writes beautifully but won’t browse the web.
• GPT-4o is fast and sharp but sometimes loses structure.
• Gemini crushes numbers but struggles with complex writing.
• GPT-4.5? Smarter pattern recognition, but still limited in multimodal tasks.
• DeepSeek? A powerful contender, but with content restrictions.
• Perplexity? Real-time search, but clunky for structured responses.
• Venice AI? A hybrid model that sort of blends them all, but not always predictably.

So, how do we deal with those fast-evolving options?

Stick with what you know and hope it’s the right choice?

Testing multiple models for a specific task? (If you bother.)

Let’s change the approach.

Below👇 is a no-guesswork system + a ​copy-paste prompt​ that ensures you always use the best AI model for your work—without second-guessing.

1. You’re probably using the wrong AI (here’s why)

There are two ways people mess this up:

1. They stick to one AI because it’s easier than keeping track of everything new.
2. They jump between models, testing each with the same prompt, hoping to find the best answer.

Both waste time. Neither guarantees the best results. (I’m happy to discuss this.)

And let’s be real—there’s no single perfect AI.

I wish one model had Claude’s reasoning, GPT’s speed, Gemini’s number skills, and Perplexity’s real-time search.

I wish Claude 3.7 could browse the web, so switching between models wasn’t necessary.

I wish I didn’t have to constantly ask, “Which model will actually let me do this?”

But here we are. Every AI has strengths, gaps, and limits. Instead of waiting for perfection, let’s just pick the best one—when it matters.

2. How to pick the perfect AI in seconds

Rather than testing models individually, this system suggests which AI to use.

• Which model is best for a specific project or task (and why)?
• When to upgrade—and when to stick with free options.
• How to work around locked features without paying extra.

Use this decision-making system to make AI work smarter for you.

Or use it to develop an intuition for the strengths of each of the major language learning models.

3. Your prompt to find the best AI model (for any use case)

Ok, ​this one prompt​ removes the guesswork.

Copy, paste, and let AI tell you which model is best.

How it works:

1. Copy & paste my prompt into any AI chat (GPT-4o, GPT-4.5, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Venice AI, Mistral, DeepSeek, etc.).
2. Describe your task (e.g., “I need AI to summarize legal documents with extreme accuracy.”).
3. Instantly get a customized AI recommendation—with pros, cons, and optimization strategies.

​Access the prompt here​ and find the best AI for any use case.

4. Example: see the prompt in action

Use Case: “I need an AI to generate detailed technical documentation with structured explanations.”

Best Model: Claude 3.7 Sonnet

• Why? Ideal for well-structured content, logical progression, and technical accuracy.
• Pros: Clean, readable formatting; avoids fluff.
• Cons: No real-time web search—citations must be manually verified.

Other Options:

• GPT-4o/4.5 – If a mix of technical + conversational tone is needed.
• Mistral – If you need an open-source, customizable AI model.

Optimization Tips:

• Pair Claude 3.7 Sonnet with Perplexity AI for real-time research verification.
• Use precise prompts to enforce structured bullet-point outputs.

Final Verdict: Claude 3.7 Sonnet for structured documentation, with Perplexity AI for fact-checking. While I used ChatGPT for most tasks before, I now use Claude, Venice AI, and Perplexity for many sub-tasks, such as research, fine-tuning strategies, and creating learning material or images. I hope this approach helps you try new tools or techniques.

Bookmark the prompt so that next time you need AI, you can paste the prompt and get the best answer—without testing models yourself.

Thanks to those who replied to my last email and shared their stories and experiences. I read and respond to each message.

So, please let me know what AI model you use the most or if you have questions or feedback.

See you in the next one.

Happy Friday,
Mark
The AI Learning Guy
👋⚡😎

Keep reading: The Eisenhower Decision Matrix