I hear a lot of people saying that they use ChatGPT instead of Google search, and more. Just recently, I saw a guy at Home Depot using ChatGPT instead of a calculator. Using ChatGPT for everything is a trend that is hiding some risks I don’t think most people realize. I’ll explain. I also use ChatGPT instead of search, but only for specific use cases, so let’s review the difference between the two. ChatGPT Acts as an Assistant To arrive at the answers, ChatGPT: Checks content index on topics related to your request
Finds and arranges texts with contextually similar ideas
Combines several texts into one response in a conversational format Checks content index on topics related to your request Finds and arranges texts with contextually similar ideas Combines several texts into one response in a conversational format It’s no surprise people like it, as using ChatGPT feels like talking with an intelligent human. The strengths of ChatGPT is that it can quickly grasp a complex topic, can steer the response with follow-up questions, build on previous input, and give a straight answer in the format you prefer. What ChatGPT doesn’t do well is it does not always have access to live information (so not great for breaking news), does not always cite its sources (as it combines information from several at once,) and sometimes hallucinates (make things up that sound right.) Furthermore, ChatGPT is not trained to do math operations, although lately it was upgraded to use Python code to solve math problems as a workaround. Search Retrieves Existing Information Search works by finding existing information that its algorithm evaluates as trustworthy: Understands your request as a keyword or a phrase
Evaluates existing web pages with your keyword text using backlinks and other signals
Returns its ranking of actual web pages that contain words from your request Understands your request as a keyword or a phrase Evaluates existing web pages with your keyword text using backlinks and other signals Returns its ranking of actual web pages that contain words from your request The strengths of Search is that it indexes the internet well and can access real-time data (breaking news, current prices), cite source access (specific web pages,) and access niche content (websites, products, contact info.) The downsides of Search is that you need to sift through and read multiple pages, doesn’t summarize or explain, and results depend heavily on how you phrase and which keywords you use. When to Use Which? Both Search and ChatGPT have great use cases, but the strengths and limitations of each make them uniquely good for some tasks, and uniquely bad for others. Here’s a guide you can use (and expand) based on the qualities of both: Use Case

Best Tool



Quick explanations

✅ ChatGPT



Summarizing long documents

✅ ChatGPT



Finding a specific book or document

🌐 Search



Real-time updates (e.g., news)

🌐 Search



Finding a specific website/product

🌐 Search



Drafting greetings/essays

✅ ChatGPT



Academic research or citations

🌐 Search



Exploring a topic interactively

✅ ChatGPT



Looking up a recipe

✅ ChatGPT



Drafting template-based documents

✅ ChatGPT



Math calculations

🧮 Calculator Use Case

Best Tool



Quick explanations

✅ ChatGPT



Summarizing long documents

✅ ChatGPT



Finding a specific book or document

🌐 Search



Real-time updates (e.g., news)

🌐 Search



Finding a specific website/product

🌐 Search



Drafting greetings/essays

✅ ChatGPT



Academic research or citations

🌐 Search



Exploring a topic interactively

✅ ChatGPT



Looking up a recipe

✅ ChatGPT



Drafting template-based documents

✅ ChatGPT



Math calculations

🧮 Calculator Use Case

Best Tool Use Case Use Case Use Case Best Tool Best Tool Best Tool Quick explanations

✅ ChatGPT Quick explanations Quick explanations ✅ ChatGPT ✅ ChatGPT Summarizing long documents

✅ ChatGPT Summarizing long documents Summarizing long documents ✅ ChatGPT ✅ ChatGPT Finding a specific book or document

🌐 Search Finding a specific book or document Finding a specific book or document 🌐 Search 🌐 Search Real-time updates (e.g., news)

🌐 Search Real-time updates (e.g., news) Real-time updates (e.g., news) 🌐 Search 🌐 Search Finding a specific website/product

🌐 Search Finding a specific website/product Finding a specific website/product 🌐 Search 🌐 Search Drafting greetings/essays

✅ ChatGPT Drafting greetings/essays Drafting greetings/essays ✅ ChatGPT ✅ ChatGPT Academic research or citations

🌐 Search Academic research or citations Academic research or citations 🌐 Search 🌐 Search Exploring a topic interactively

✅ ChatGPT Exploring a topic interactively Exploring a topic interactively ✅ ChatGPT ✅ ChatGPT Looking up a recipe

✅ ChatGPT Looking up a recipe Looking up a recipe ✅ ChatGPT ✅ ChatGPT Drafting template-based documents

✅ ChatGPT Drafting template-based documents Drafting template-based documents ✅ ChatGPT ✅ ChatGPT Math calculations

🧮 Calculator Math calculations Math calculations 🧮 Calculator 🧮 Calculator In general, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that with ChatGPT, you’re getting a mash-up of information out there, not absolutely correct, factual information. There are many cases when this isn’t critical, just don’t rely on it to look up the absolute truth.

The is an opinion piece based on the author’s POV and does not necessarily reflect the views of HackerNoon.

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