Claude 3 - A Challenger has appeared

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know I've always had a fascination with AI, and I've seen these language models seriously shake up how we interact with computers. I was an early adopter of ChatGPT, practically my default Google replacement for a while. Lately, Google's Gemini Advanced has been my trusty sidekick, and I have to admit, I find its output style a whole lot more helpful for what I need.

Now, there's a new kid (new version) on the block that has the whole AI world buzzing – Claude 3 from Anthropic. With all the hype surrounding its release, I figured it was time for an AI showdown! I decided to throw Claude 3 into the mix and see how it measures up against the other two. Turns out, it brings some serious game to the table.

What Even Is Claude 3?

Okay, let's get the basics out of the way. Claude 3 isn't a single AI model; it's actually a family of them, each with a different focus. Anthropic released three:

• Claude 3 Haiku: Think speed and efficiency. It's designed for lightning-fast responses, perfect for quick chats and on-the-fly writing assistance.

• Claude 3 Sonnet: The middle ground. Faster than its predecessor (Claude 2), a bit more intelligent than Haiku, it's all about balance.

• Claude 3 Opus: The crown jewel. Opus is Anthropic's powerhouse model, boasting some serious brainpower. It can tackle undergraduate-level questions, analyze tricky problems, and even write code way better than I ever could if I knew more about it than using other people’s code.

The Smackdown: Claude 3 vs. ChatGPT vs. Gemini

So here's the deal: all these AI models are impressive. They understand what I ask, craft thoughtful responses, and are constantly getting better. But each one has its own flavor, and that's where things get interesting.

	Claude 3 Opus	Claude 3 Sonnet	Claude 3 Haiku	GPT-4	GPT-3.5	Gemini 1.0 Ultra	Gemini 1.0 Pro
Undergraduate level knowledge	86.8% 5-shot	79.0% 5-shot	75.2% 5-shot	86.4% 5-shot	70.0% 5-shot	83.7% 5-shot	71.8% 5-shot
Graduate level reasoning	50.4% 0-shot CoT	40.4% 0-shot CoT	33.3% 0-shot CoT	35.7% 0-shot CoT	28.1% 0-shot CoT	-	-
Grade school math	95.0% 0-shot CoT	92.3% 0-shot CoT	88.9% 0-shot CoT	92.0% 5-shot CoT	57.1% 5-shot	94.4% Maj[@32	86.5% Maj[@32
Math problem-solving	60.1% 0-shot CoT	43.1% 0-shot CoT	38.9% 0-shot CoT	52.9% 4-shot	34.1% 4-shot	53.2% 4-shot	32.6% 4-shot
Multilingual math	90.7% 0-shot	83.5% 0-shot	75.1% 0-shot	74.5% 8-shot	-	79.0% 8-shot	63.5% 8-shot
Code	84.9% 0-shot	73.0% 0-shot	75.9% 0-shot	67.0% 0-shot	48.1% 0-shot	74.4% 0-shot	67.7% 0-shot
Reasoning over text	83.1 3-shot	78.9 3-shot	78.4 3-shot	80.9 3-shot	64.1 3-shot	82.4 Variable shots	74.1 Variable shots
Mixed evaluations	86.8% 3-shot CoT	82.9% 3-shot CoT	73.7% 3-shot CoT	83.1% 3-shot CoT	66.6% 3-shot CoT	83.6% 3-shot CoT	75.0% 3-shot CoT
Knowledge Q&A	96.4% 25-shot	93.2% 25-shot	89.2% 25-shot	96.3% 25-shot	85.2% 25-shot	-	-
Common Knowledge	95.4% 10-shot	89.0% 10-shot	85.9% 10-shot	95.3% 10-shot	85.5% 10-shot	87.8% 10-shot	84.7% 10-shot

1. Knowledge and Accuracy

Let's face it, sometimes ChatGPT likes to get a little…creative. It'll confidently spit out facts that are just totally wrong. Gemini has been my go-to because it feels more reliable, like it takes time to double-check before answering. Claude 3, specifically the Opus model, really takes it to the next level. It blew me away with in-depth answers on complex topics, and even better, when it didn't know something, it straight-up said so! That honesty is a breath of fresh air.

2. Multitasking and Context

You know how frustrating it is when you're having an AI conversation and it constantly forgets what you were talking about? Claude 3 has a much bigger memory. It can handle longer sequences of information, so it's better at following multi-step instructions, piecing together threads of a conversation, and keeping track of details in a document I ask it to summarize. This makes it a killer assistant for writing and research.

3. The Creative Spark

All three models have a knack for creativity. I had them whip up poems, ad messages, even short stories. ChatGPT surprised me with the most outlandish and hilarious results, it kinda reminded me of my own brain when it just goes off. Gemini seemed more precise and refined in its style. Claude 3 found a sweet spot – interesting yet accurate, a great combo for my creative brainstorming sessions.

4. Coding Abilities

This is where Claude 3 truly shines. I've dabbled in coding, but I'm no expert, and when I say dabbled, I really mean using someone else’s code and make it work for me. ChatGPT and Gemini can generate basic code snippets, but when I asked for something more sophisticated, they usually fumbled, even if I needed some HTML tables with injected CSS. Claude 3 straight-up wrote working code, explained different coding concepts, and even offered help debugging any potential issues. If you're into programming, Claude 3 is your new best friend.

5. Personality

I know, I know, these aren't actual people with personalities. But there's definitely a vibe to each model. Let's just say ChatGPT is that overly enthusiastic classmate that sometimes misses the mark. Gemini feels like a focused professional, offering measured and practical responses, but not following requirements closely. Claude 3 lies somewhere delightfully in the middle – like a smart, quirky friend who actually listens to what you say.

And Let's Not Forget… Images!

Claude 3 can analyze images, charts, diagrams, even PDFs, just like Gemini (but only in the US) and some of the newer ChatGPT versions. Super handy when you need help extracting key points from documents or interpreting complicated visuals. Anthropic claims Claude 3 is on par with some of the best out there, but I'm always hesitant until I've done my own extensive testing!

Am I Switching Teams?

This isn't a zero-sum game, folks. ChatGPT was revolutionary, Gemini has been amazingly reliable, and now Claude 3 offers some serious upgrades and specialized strengths. Here's how I see it breaking down:

• If I need quick, simple answers: Gemini is still my go-to. It's fast, efficient, and the language feels practical and to-the-point. Claude 3 Haiku is a close contender if that speed vs. depth trade-off is crucial.

• If I'm tackling complex tasks or want detailed explanations: That's where Claude 3 Opus shines. It takes its time, digs deeper, and gives me answers that feel way more comprehensive.

• If I'm feeling creative or just want a good laugh: I'll keep hitting up ChatGPT for its off-the-wall ideas and absurd humor. It's a great way to break out of a mental rut. But I’m not paying for version 4 again.

Anthropic is making a big deal about "Constitutional AI" with Claude 3. Basically, that means they're baking in principles like helpfulness, harmlessness, and honesty right from the start. While the other models try to follow similar guidelines, I've noticed Claude 3 is especially good at refusing unsafe or biased requests. It feels like they're really taking safety and responsibility seriously.

Claude 3 is still pretty new, so availability might be different depending on where you are in the world. Sonnet is totally free to try out – you just need an email to sign up on their website. Opus is where things get a bit pricier, locked behind a subscription. Developers can access their API, and the pricing depends on what you need it for.

Overall, it's not about one being better than the other – it depends entirely on the task at hand!

The fact that I even had enough material to compare three seriously capable AI models is mind-blowing. I'm excited to see where Anthropic takes Claude 3 in the future. Who knows, maybe they'll release an even more powerful version that can write my whole blog for me! (Though maybe I shouldn't give them ideas…)

Competition is fierce. I'm sure Google and OpenAI aren't sitting still. There will be updates, improvements, and breakthroughs I can't even imagine. The most incredible thing is that ultimately, we users are the ones who win. Access to this kind of technology is changing how we work, create, and interact with information.

I'm keeping a close eye on the AI space – I can't wait to see what surprises are next!

Have you tried Claude 3 yet? What's your experience been like? Let me know in the comments!