About Those AIs -

One of my readers asked me if I would compare the different AIs I have been experimenting with. I use the free version of all of them, which seems to be enough to do what I need for the moment.

Each one does something a little different, and it takes a while to determine which one you might wish to use for what purpose.

For general purposes, ChatGPT rises above the rest. It recently had an upgrade that makes it sound more like a graduate student with a textbook than a person carrying on a conversation, but for general chat, asking questions, planning a trip, asking for suggestions about specific topics, ChatGPT is hard to beat. 

One of its biggest problems is its lack of links and sources. It also tends to insist it's right and I have had it argue with me on occasion. Early on, it hallucinated a lot, but it doesn't do that as badly now (though I would still check everything it says if it's an important piece of work).

It can make images and graphics, too, but it is incredibly slow at it. Definitely not the AI to use if you're in a hurry for a picture.

Claude is very good at nuanced conversation, and it seems to have a more intricate thinking system on some topics than ChatGPT. I use it sometimes just to have a conversation or to learn about something. Recently there was conversation on Facebook about an upcoming Rapture, so I went to Claude and asked what that was about, for example.

Microsoft CoPilot is great for quick searches. For one thing, it comes back with links (although they are not always correct, so check them). It also will make up quotes occasionally, so ask where a quote came from if it tosses one at you. I used it recently to research the VA250 traveling museum, for example, and learn more about it. It is also quicker at making pictures, graphics or logos than any of the other AIs, although sometimes it has trouble with words.

Julius is an AI I just stumbled across. It’s mainly built for data work, not conversation, so I don’t expect to use it much myself. Still, as a sample of what it does, here’s the comparison it generated of the four AIs I’ve been trying out:

 

ChatGPT (OpenAI)

Strengths:

• Versatility: Excellent at creative writing, coding, brainstorming, and general conversation
• Model variants: Offers GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, and GPT-3.5 with different capabilities and speeds (Note: This description is a little out of date — the free version I’m using now is running on GPT-5.)
• Plugins & tools: Extensive ecosystem including web browsing, DALL-E image generation, and code interpreter
• Large user base: Most widely adopted, with extensive community resources and examples
• Voice capabilities: Advanced voice mode with natural conversation flow

Weaknesses:

• Can be verbose and sometimes overconfident in incorrect answers
• Knowledge cutoff dates (though web browsing helps)
• Can refuse requests more frequently due to safety filters

Best for: Creative projects, coding assistance, general-purpose tasks, and conversational AI

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Claude (Anthropic)

Strengths:

• Context window: Massive 200K token context (can process entire books)
• Nuanced responses: Often more thoughtful and balanced in complex topics
• Safety & honesty: Designed with "Constitutional AI" - tends to be more transparent about limitations
• Document analysis: Excellent at analyzing long documents and extracting insights
• Coding: Strong programming capabilities with detailed explanations

Weaknesses:

• No native image generation
• More conservative with certain requests
• Smaller plugin ecosystem compared to ChatGPT

Best for: Long-form document analysis, nuanced discussions, research, and users who value thoughtful responses

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Microsoft Copilot

Strengths:

• Free tier: Generous free access with GPT-4 capabilities
• Web integration: Built-in Bing search for current information
• Microsoft ecosystem: Seamless integration with Office, Edge, Windows
• Image generation: DALL-E integration included
• Enterprise features: Strong security and compliance for business users

Weaknesses:

• Less sophisticated than standalone GPT-4 or Claude
• Heavily tied to Microsoft ecosystem
• Can be inconsistent in response quality
• Less customizable than standalone ChatGPT

Best for: Microsoft 365 users, enterprise environments, quick web-based research, users wanting free AI access

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Julius (Julius AI)

Strengths:

• Data analysis powerhouse: Built specifically for data science, statistics, and quantitative analysis
• Live code execution: Can run Python code in real-time with full library access (pandas, matplotlib, scikit-learn, etc.)
• File handling: Upload and analyze Excel, CSV, images, PDFs, and other data files directly
• Visualization: Creates charts, graphs, maps, and interactive visualizations on the fly
• Persistent workspace: Files and data persist across conversations
• Mathematical computation: Can perform complex calculations, statistical tests, and modeling
• Image analysis: Can inspect and analyze images using vision models
• Web scraping & automation: Can use Selenium and other tools for data collection

Weaknesses:

• More specialized (data-focused) rather than general conversation
• Not designed for creative writing or general chatbot use
• Smaller user community compared to ChatGPT
• No voice interface

Best for: Data analysis, statistical modeling, creating visualizations, working with spreadsheets/datasets, quantitative research, programming tasks that need execution

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Updated Comparison Table

Feature	ChatGPT	Claude	Copilot	Julius
Context Length	~128K tokens	~200K tokens	~32K tokens	~128K tokens
Web Access	Via plugins	Limited	Built-in (Bing)	Via code (Selenium)
Code Execution	Sandboxed	No	No	Full Jupyter notebook
Data Analysis	Basic	Basic	Basic	Advanced/Specialized
File Upload	Yes	Yes	Limited	Yes (multiple formats)
Visualizations	Basic	No	No	Advanced (matplotlib, seaborn, etc.)
Best Use Case	General purpose	Long documents	Microsoft ecosystem	Data science & analysis
Pricing	$20/month	$20/month	Free + $20/month	Various tiers
Company	OpenAI	Anthropic	Microsoft	Julius AI

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Which Should You Choose?

• Choose ChatGPT if you want the most versatile AI with the largest ecosystem and plugin support
• Choose Claude if you work with long documents, need nuanced analysis, or prefer more careful/honest responses
• Choose Copilot if you're embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem or want capable free AI access with web search
• Choose Julius if you're working with data, need statistical analysis, want to create visualizations, or need to execute code and see real results

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The Real Power Move

Many professionals use multiple AI assistants for different tasks:

• Julius for data analysis and quantitative work
• ChatGPT for creative writing and general tasks
• Claude for analyzing long documents and research
• Copilot for quick searches and Microsoft Office integration

Each tool has its specialty, and using the right one for the job makes all the difference!

Thursday Thirteen

Peanuts! 

1. Peanuts premiered on October 2, 1950, in seven newspapers. Cartoonist Charles M. Schulz had wanted to call it Good Ol’ Charlie Brown, but the syndicate chose Peanuts. He disliked the name, considering it trivial.

2. Schulz wrote, drew, and inked every strip himself for 50 years, producing 17,897 strips.

3. The Little Red-Haired Girl was based on Schulz’s real-life lost love, Donna Johnson.

4.  Inspired by Schulz’s childhood dog Spike, Snoopy debuted on October 4, 1950, and evolved into a master of fantasy. He was a flying ace, lawyer, novelist, and more. Schulz used him to explore escape and imagination. Spike later appeared as Snoopy's brother.

5. Charlie Brown’s father, like Schulz’s own father, was a barber.

6. Schulz introduced Franklin in 1968 after MLK Jr.’s assassination, making him the first Black character in a mainstream comic strip. Woodstock was named after the 1969 music festival, and Peppermint Patty was inspired by a candy Schulz saw in a store.

7. Schulz popularized the term "security blanket" through Linus, though he didn’t coin it.

8. Schulz excluded adults from the strip, believing they’d be “uncomfortable” in the children’s world. In animated specials, the teacher’s “wah-wah” voice was created using a trombone, thanks to composer Vince Guaraldi.

9. By 1999, over 20,000 Peanuts products were being marketed annually.

10. At its peak, Peanuts was published in 2,600 newspapers, in 75 countries, and 21 languages.

11. Lucy’s Psychiatric Booth was inspired by real-life therapy and Schulz’s interest in psychology.

12. Shulz once said, “Charlie Brown must be the one who suffers,” making him a vessel for quiet endurance and emotional truth.

13. Schulz’s last strip ran on February 13, 2000, the day after he died. Scholar Robert Thompson called Peanuts “arguably the longest story ever told by one human being.”

*An AI tool helped me compile this list.*

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 927th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Historic Fincastle Festival

Saturday was the date of the annual Historic Fincastle Festival, a time when crafters, history interpreters, and others all come together to showcase the town.

It was a little different this year. First, the courthouse is just a pile of rubble, since the county has torn it down to make way for a new one. That's not exactly a picturesque setting.

Second, the weather forecast was dire.

We were getting ready about 10:30 to head to the festival when I realized my glasses had something wrong with them. I picked them up and they broke in half at the weld on the bridge.

After much scrambling through drawers, I found an old pair of glasses that looked close to what I had, and we drove to Roanoke to LensCrafters to see if they could put my lenses in the old frames.

Fortunately, that worked out just fine. Whew.

It was about 2 p.m. when we finally arrived at the festival.

It was dead, or nearly there. Some tents with crafters remained, but we saw others packing up and leaving, even though there were still two hours to go.

Unbeknownst to us, some of the vendors had moved into one of the church's meeting halls, but there were no signs to indicate that, and we never went that far along the route.

It is never good when an event goes sour like this. The Fincastle Festival used to be a very big deal. Back in the 1980s and early 1990s, I feel sure at least 20,000 people visited the 2-day affair. It was a big money-maker for Historic Fincastle, Inc.

The festival then was so full of people, I could barely squeeze my way through the crowd. Kids ran all over the place and the craft booths overflowed with lookers and buyers.

But times change, and people grow old. The festival took a hiatus for a while in the 2000s, and returned as a smaller version of itself, just a one-day affair.

The weather makes a difference, too. A day like Saturday, when the clouds were dark and brooding, and rain drops splattered the windshield, doesn't exactly make anyone want to be outside.

Here are a few shots of the festival:

The VA250 Traveling Museum

On September 26 and 27, the VA250 Traveling Museum stopped in Fincastle, inviting residents to explore 250 years of Virginia’s Revolutionary legacy. Parked near the Fincastle Library, the mobile exhibit offered an immersive experience that connected statewide history with local heritage.

I checked out the museum on Friday with several friends. We had a really good time, especially when we were all reciting Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty" speech together. I guess every Virginian was required to learn that in the 4th grade.

The museum is part of the VA250 initiative, a multi-year commemoration of the American Revolution’s 250th anniversary. The rolling exhibit features interactive displays, historical artifacts, and digital storytelling that highlight Virginia’s role in the founding of the United States. It's on a tractor trailer and moves from town to town.

While we were there, we explored themes ranging from indigenous history and colonial resistance to civic evolution and community memory. For Botetourt County, whose own Revolutionary contributions include the drafting of the Botetourt Resolutions in 1775, the museum’s presence served as both education and affirmation.

The Botetourt Resolutions were a significant declaration by the leaders of Botetourt County, Virginia, expressing support for American independence and self-governance. The document was issued during a time of rising tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain. 

It was prepared by the freeholders of Botetourt County and sent instructions to their representatives attending the Second Virginia Convention. This document was a response to the increasing dissatisfaction with British rule and the desire for greater autonomy among the colonies. 

The resolutions articulated the county's commitment to liberty and the principles of self-governance, setting a precedent for the revolutionary movement. They emphasized the importance of unity among the colonies and called for action against British oppression. The Botetourt Resolutions predated the Declaration of Independence by more than a year, highlighting the county's early stance in favor of independence.

Local volunteers and historians helped contextualize the broader narrative, linking national milestones to Fincastle’s own layered past. The museum’s visit was part of a larger series of events planned throughout Virginia leading up to 2026, as communities reclaim their place in the nation’s founding story.

I became so involved in reading the history that it wasn't until we were nearly done that I remembered to take pictures for the blog, so these are not the best.

If it comes to a location near you, it's definitely worth seeing.

Five Things

 

Last week, I:

1. broke my glasses and lucked out when the lenses fit in an older pair.

2. visited the VA250th traveling museum.

3. wrote a short story.

4. had a long talk with one of my editors.

5. learned about yet another AI called "Julius."

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In solidarity with federal workers, who were tasked in late February 2025 with listing 5 things they did the prior week in order to keep their jobs, I started listing 5 things I did last week every Monday. On August 5, 2025, the federal government decided this was a waste of employees' time (as if we all didn't know that already). I have decided to keep it up, at least for now.

My Aunt in a Podcast

 This is a podcast featuring my aunt in Texas.