Expert gives tips: How can you best use AI for your benefit?

More and more people are regularly using AI chatbots: The number of providers and features has become vast and confusing. Which models are the best – and how can you best use AI for yourself, both privately and professionally?

Surveys show that at least a quarter of people in Germany now regularly use AI tools like ChatGPT. The range of chatbots and features available is now vast. But how do you best use these language models? Ethan Mollick, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has made a name for himself in recent years as one of the leading experts in the practical use of artificial intelligence. He recently published a guide on his popular blog about the best ways to use ChatGPT and other tools.

Choosing the right chatbot: There are now a large number of different chatbots on the market. However, Mollick narrows down the truly useful ones to three: ChatGPT from OpenAI, Claude from Anthropic, and Gemini from Google. They all offer multiple models and features: You can speak with them in natural language (voice mode), search the internet, analyze documents, and create images (except with Claude). All three also offer a usable smartphone app; the paid versions with full functionality cost around €20 per month from all providers. Other chatbots, such as Grok (xAI), Copilot (Microsoft), or DeepSeek (China), are too limited, too non-transparent, or too uncertain in their future development for most users.

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Choosing the right model: Each of the three recommended providers offers two to three different versions of models, which are best suited for different tasks, according to Mollick. OpenAI has now released GPT-5, a model that relieves the user of the choice in case of doubt. However, according to the expert, the general rule is:

• Fast models (GPT-5 (formerly GPT-4o), Claude Sonnet, Gemini Flash): ideal for brainstorming
• Powerful models (GPT-5 Thinking (formerly o3), Claude 4 Opus, Gemini Pro 2.5): suitable for work - analysis, writing, research and coding
• Ultra-powerful models (GPT-5 pro (formerly 03-pro), Claude 4 Opus Extended Thinking, Gemini 2.5 Deep Think (formerly Gemini Pro 2.5)): suitable for really difficult problems (can sometimes take up to 20 minutes).

The professor also emphasizes that he himself uses the aforementioned models in his work. However, caution: Employees should strictly adhere to their employer's guidelines when using AI at work.

Use deep research: Mollick recommends what he considers a "very useful" feature of chatbots: deep research. This doesn't provide quick answers, but rather—as the name suggests—extensively researches and analyzes sources on the internet. Mollick writes that deep research tools can produce high-quality reports that impress even experts. He cites three use cases as examples:

• Gift ideas: "What do I buy for a picky 11-year-old who has read all the Harry Potter books, is interested in science museums, and loves chess? Give me options, including the best places to shop."
• Travel Guide: "I'm going on vacation to Wisconsin and want to visit unique sights, especially with a focus on cheese. Create a travel guide for me."
• Second opinions in law, medicine, and other areas—while one should trust a doctor or lawyer more than an AI, Mollick says. However, studies have shown that advanced AI systems deliver very good diagnoses with a surprisingly low error rate and can therefore be useful for second opinions.

Use Voice Mode: Don't type, just talk to the AI—this is possible with Voice Mode, which all three major providers also offer. Mollick sees this natural interaction as ideal for cooking, taking a walk, or driving to work. You can also share the screen or use the camera to have the AI ​​recognize plants or a sign in a foreign language. However, Mollick notes that one limitation is that the most powerful models aren't integrated by default for Voice Mode, and web searches are used less frequently, which can lead to errors.

How to talk to AI? A question that concerns many: How do you ask the right questions (also called "prompts") to achieve the best results? Mollick points out that a complex prompt strategy is no longer necessary for advanced models. Even politeness toward AI, as is often discussed, doesn't bring any measurable benefits. The expert therefore recommends a relaxed and natural tone when interacting with the chatbot. He also offers a few tips for better results:

• Provide context - files, presentations, short introductory information
• Formulate clearly
• Ask extensively - for example, ask for 50 ideas instead of 10
• Ask AI not for one solution, but for several variants

Caution! Typical pitfalls: Chatbots aren't miracle machines, but software based on probability calculations. They therefore have their pitfalls, which one should be aware of. AI expert Mollick also recommends the following precautions:

• Hallucinations: AI models can sometimes "invent" information, a process known as hallucinations. While these would be less common with modern models, they remain a risk. Powerful models and the use of web searches reduce the risk.
• No magic: AI chatbots operate at the level of intelligent humans, but don't have superhuman insights. Skepticism remains important, warns Mollick.
• Two-way interaction: AI should be used as a conversation partner, so questions and dialogue are important.