Survey reveals you want one simple thing from AI, and it’s not more bells and whistles

It doesn’t really feel that way back that we first fired up ChatGPT, solely to be wowed by the way it might reply and reply queries as if it had been semi-sentient. However such is the tempo of the business, it’s onerous to maintain up with all of the performance of every AI instrument in 2026. They really feel like productiveness octopuses now, with tentacles in each app and more integrations and options than you can shake a stick at. Workflows like Gemini Notebooks and apps like NotebookLM are two good examples of how rapidly Gemini has developed. We needed to know whether or not all that additional performance actually issues to you, or whether or not you’d quite the likes of Google and OpenAI ought to simply give attention to ensuring AI may give you the very best solutions.

We put the query to you in a ballot after my colleague Karandeep made the case that Gemini Notebooks — particularly with NotebookLM within the combine — had made him rethink ChatGPT. His argument was about what might win him over when selecting an AI instrument, particularly about Google giving Gemini a more helpful workflow with issues like Notebooks and customized sources. That’s his private take, however all of us have our personal view of how AI instruments might up their recreation. Right here’s how you voted.

Because the chart reveals, the result’s fairly decisive. From over 2,000 votes, 53% of readers stated higher solutions matter most to them in an AI instrument. Integrations like NotebookLM got here subsequent with 22%, adopted by organized workflow at 17%. Solely 8% stated they simply use no matter is best. To be truthful, most individuals who simply don’t want to assume a lot about AI in all probability weren’t studying Karendeep’s article.

That doesn’t imply Google and its rivals are losing their time by constructing out their AI instruments this manner. If we mix the workflow and integration votes, virtually 4 in ten respondents have an interest within the form of broader productiveness setups that Gemini and others provide. It’s simply that almost all readers nonetheless appear to see that because the nice-to-have half, whereas accuracy of solutions is more of a dealbreaker.

A handful of you jumped into the feedback part of Karendeep’s article, and it was a debate over which AI instrument is doing one of the best job. Chris Joseph wasn’t bought on Gemini, writing, “As chatbots go, Gemini is essentially the most irritating to work with. NotebookLM is its solely saving grace IMO.” Phillip Warner agreed, saying, “I preserve giving Gemini an opportunity, and it’s simply not good.” On the opposite facet, Markthomasbernhardt pointed to a helpful workflow, noting that you can put a Google Deep Analysis paper into NotebookLM as a steerage doc.

Loopy Zaza in all probability summed up the AI race finest: “In every week, GPT 5.6 will make you rethink Gemini. It’s going to by no means finish.” Zaza could also be loopy, however they make a good level — prefer it or not, it appears that is our life now.