As someone who tests AI for a living, sometimes I experiment for the sake of my work; and it's not always easy. For example, recently, I pryed ChatGPT from my own hands and switched to Gemini. I figured with so many people ditching ChatGPT for Gemini, what could be so hard?
Likewise, after reading one survey about how people actually use ChatGPT and another about which chatbots the public prefers, I started to wonder: could I really give up ChatGPT for a week and rely only on Google’s Gemini?
My goal was simple but as a ChatGPT power user, the task felt hard even before I started. But I had to find out if Gemini could fully replace ChatGPT and deliver the same results (or maybe even better?).
Both are among the best AI chatbots right now, but I wanted to see if Gemini could handle everything I count on ChatGPT for, which frankly, is a lot. I turn to ChatGPT for help organizing my schedule and brainstorming ideas to even pulling in real-time information.
So, somewhat reluctantly, I put Gemini to the test for seven straight days. And while it did surprise me in a few areas, I ultimately found myself missing ChatGPT. Here’s why I’m switching back.
First impressions of Gemini
I usually keep the ChatGPT app front and center on my phone, but for this experiment I went all in; I actually deleted my ChatGPT app so I wouldn’t be tempted to use it.
It's mid-September and Gemini has already racked up 12.6 million downloads, up from 8.7 million in August and surpassing ChatGPT in the app store. So, with the app already installed, I hoped that Gemini could take on everything I had planned for the week. It’s great for Nano Banana trends, but I wanted to stay productive.
At first glance, Gemini feels a lot like ChatGPT with its clean, simple interface. The big difference is Google’s integration. Having Docs, Gmail, and Search built right in makes quick lookups feel faster and more connected to the web.
But when I pushed Gemini to expand on ideas or help me brainstorm, its responses often fell flat; accurate, yes, but missing personality. And that’s exactly the difference that I’ve come to appreciate about ChatGPT.
Where Gemini impressed me
- Search integration: Gemini is unbeatable for pulling in up-to-date info, product comparisons, or recent news. When I asked about the best smart glasses in 2025, it cited recent launches and the latest features.
- Summaries: Gemini was excellent at condensing long PDFs or emails into digestible takeaways.
- Organization: Its tie-in with Google Calendar made scheduling a breeze.
Where Gemini fell short
Creativity: Time and again, I’ve found that Gemini is not very good at brainstorming. It simply lacks creativity, often generating overly generic or less-than-helpful responses. This is one of my biggest issues with Gemini, it feels far too robotic to be creative.
Consistency: Sometimes Gemini nailed a task; other times, it gave me half-answers or cut off abruptly. ChatGPT feels steadier in its output.
Memory and flow: In longer chats, Gemini tended to lose context faster, while ChatGPT carried the thread more naturally.
The dealbreaker for me
I have a subscription to Gemini Advanced, which is great for access to the latest models, an extended context window, more storage and deeper integration. It’s super helpful for coding, research and handling big multimodal projects, but for project outlines or idea generation, it just doesn't get as creative as ChatGPT, which for me, was ultimately the deciding factor.
I need an AI that can keep me organized while also improving my ideas and editing with flair. From my experience, ChatGPT is still superior at that.
The takeaway
After a week with Gemini, I can see why some people might prefer it, especially if they live inside Google’s ecosystem and want seamless integration. But for my professional and personal life, ChatGPT is still the stronger partner for supporting my creative needs. If I leaned more analytic, I might feel differently. Ultimately, I prefer using both chatbots together because what one lacks, the other can do and vice versa.
Clearly, Gemini is catching up fast, but for now, that ChatGPT app is right back on my home screen and that’s a sigh of relief for me.
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