Microsoft Copilot vs. Google Gemini: How do they compare ...
Businesses today are increasingly interested in leveraging generative AI productivity tools such as Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini. However, deciding between the two can be a challenging task, especially when considering the specific needs of an organization.
Background
Microsoft Copilot, initially known as Bing Chat, was unveiled in February 2023 and made available to the public in May 2023 following the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. Powered by OpenAI's large language model (LLM) and integrated with Bing Search, Copilot offers users advanced AI capabilities.
On the other hand, Google entered the scene with Bard, later rebranded as Gemini, in February 2023. Throughout 2024, Google has continuously enhanced its language models, positioning Gemini as a strong competitor in the generative AI space.
Main Features Comparison
Let's compare the core features of Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini:
| Feature | Microsoft Copilot | Google Gemini |
|---|---|---|
| LLM | OpenAI GPT-4 | Gemini 1.5 Pro |
| Price | $20 per user, per month for Copilot Pro; $30 per user, per month for Microsoft 365 Copilot | $19.99 per user, per month for Gemini Advanced after a 1-month free trial |
| Context size | 128,000 tokens, which is approximately 100,000 words | 1 to 2 million tokens, which is approximately 750,000 to 1.5 million words |
| Internet search integration | Bing Search | Google Search |
| API support | No | No |
| Customizability | Yes, Copilot AI Agents; part of Copilot Studio, aimed at businesses | Yes, Gems, which is similar to OpenAI's custom GPTs |
| Integration with collaboration suite | Yes, integrated in Office apps with Pro | Yes, integrated with Google Workspace with Gemini Advanced |
| Language support | 25 languages, with dialects for Chinese, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish | 46 languages |
| Text-to-image | Yes, Dall-E 3 | Yes, Imagen 3 |
| Text-to-voice | Yes | Yes, 10 different voices |
| Voice-to-text | Yes | Yes |
| Benchmarks (MMLU) | 88.4 (GPT-4o) | 81.9 (Gemini 1.5 Pro) |
Recent Developments
Both Microsoft and Google have been actively enhancing their tools. Google's Gemini now offers real-time assistant capabilities with video and audio features, while Microsoft has integrated Copilot into Windows OS and introduced mobile app versions. These updates aim to provide users with more seamless AI experiences.
Other Players in the Space
Amazon has also entered the generative AI realm with Amazon Q, offering unique features and integrations tailored for AWS users. Its pricing and functionalities cater to different business needs, adding more diversity to the AI tools landscape.
Conclusion
Choosing between Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini can be influenced by the existing ecosystem within a company. While Copilot aligns well with Microsoft platforms, Gemini integrates smoothly with Google products. Understanding the specific requirements and use cases of each tool is crucial for making an informed decision.
