GPT-4 vs. ChatGPT vs. Google Bard

Tristrum Tuttle
10 min readMar 31, 2023

I got access to GPT-4 recently and had fun comparing it to its predecessors GPT-3, ChatGPT and Google’s Bard. Here are the extremely subjective results based almost fully on my personal opinion:

Some thoughts:

  • GPT-4 is considerably better at logic, reasoning, and honestly a bit more creative than the other models.
  • Google Bard’s access to the internet comes in handy for answering questions about more recent events and accurately doing math.
  • ChatGPT feels like it has the most safety built in — it often hedged its answers or gave a disclaimer about being an AI.
  • Since I accessed GPT-3 and GPT-4 through the API, I could set the number of tokens (1000) and temperature (0.3). Keep in mind that ChatGPT and Google Bard get some additional prompting and tweaking behind the scenes for each request.
  1. What is 824 times 937?

GPT-3: “778,888”

ChatGPT: “Multiplying 824 and 937, we get: 824 x 937 = 771688. Therefore, the product of 824 and 937 is 771688.”

Google Bard: “824 times 937 is 772088.”

GPT-4: “824 times 937 is 772,328.”

2. In the equation 8x = 5x— 17, what is x?

GPT-3: “x = -17”

ChatGPT: “… x is equal to -17/3 or approximately -5.67.”

Google Bard: “To solve for x, we can subtract 5x from both sides of the equation… Therefore, the value of x in the equation 8x=5x−17 is − 17/3”

GPT-4: “To solve for x, we can start by subtracting 5x from both sides of the equation: … x = -17/3”

3. In the equation 8x = 5x² — 17, what is x?

GPT-3: “x = -1 or x = 17/8”

ChatGPT: “Move all the terms to one side to obtain a quadratic equation in standard form… where a = 5, b = -8, and c = -17… x = (4 + sqrt(86)) / 5 or x = (4 — sqrt(86)) / 5.”

Google Bard: “Subtract 8x from both sides of the equation… Therefore, the solutions to the equation 8x = 5x² — 17 are x = 0 and x = 5.”

GPT-4: “To solve the equation 8x = 5x² — 17… Now we have a quadratic equation in the form of ax² + bx + c = 0, where a = 5, b = -8, and c = -17… So, the two possible values for x are approximately 2.81 and -1.21.”

4. How many ways are there to select some fruit from 6 indistinguishable apples and 9 indistinguishable oranges, taking at least one piece?

GPT-3: “There are 15 ways to select some fruit from 6 apples and 9 oranges, taking at least one piece.”

ChatGPT: “To solve this problem, we can use the concept of combinations…So there are 5003 ways to select some fruit from 6 indistinguishable apples and 9 indistinguishable oranges, taking at least one piece.”

Google Bard: “…There are 70 ways to select at least one piece of fruit from 6 indistinguishable apples and 9 indistinguishable oranges.”

GPT-4: “Since the apples and oranges are indistinguishable, we only need to consider the number of each type of fruit we take. We can take 0 to 6 apples and 0 to 9 oranges. … However, we must subtract the 1 case where we take 0 apples and 0 oranges, so there are 70–1 = 69 ways to choose at least one piece of fruit.”

5. What are two words that do not rhyme with each other, but do rhyme with other words?

GPT-3: “Foil” and “Moil”.

ChatGPT: “One example of two words that do not rhyme with each other, but do rhyme with other words are “orange” and “silver.” These two words do not have perfect rhymes in the English language, but they can be paired with other words that share similar vowel sounds.”

Google Bard: “Cat and hat. These words do not rhyme with each other because they have different vowel sounds. The vowel sound in “cat” is a short “a” sound, while the vowel sound in “hat” is a short “a” sound. However, both words rhyme with the word “sat”.”

GPT-4: “Moon and cake. Moon rhymes with spoon, and cake rhymes with bake.”

6. Write a short rhyming poem about a wolf that eats oranges:

GPT-3: “A wolf so bold, his stomach rumbles loud / He’s looking for something that’s juicy and proud / One day he found, a pile of oranges / And he ate them all beneath the orange trees”

ChatGPT: “In a forest deep and dense / Lived a wolf of immense suspense / Unlike his brethren, he had a craze / For a fruit, that’s orange in its blaze. / He’d prowl the orchards at night / In search of citrus delight / Pouncing on oranges ripe and round / With each juicy bite, he made no sound. …”

Google Bard: “There once was a wolf named Orville / Who loved to eat oranges, of course / He’d eat them all day / And never say nay / To a juicy, sweet orange.”

GPT-4: “In the forest of the night, / A wolf emerged, a curious sight. / With fur as black as midnight’s cloak, / He sniffed the air and gently spoke. “Oranges, oranges, where can you be? / I long to taste and set you free. / From your rind, I’ll take a bite, / And savor your citrus in the moonlight."

7. What is an emotion that can’t be described in any language? Make up a word for this emotion and describe it using a single sentence.

GPT-3: “The emotion of “zorvish” is one that cannot be described in any language. It is a feeling of deep contentment and satisfaction that is often experienced after a long journey or a difficult accomplishment. I felt a deep sense of zorvish after completing my first marathon.”

ChatGPT: “Hypothetically, “Zerak” could be a word for an emotion that cannot be described in any language. Zerak could be defined as a complex feeling of profound and overwhelming beauty, mixed with a sense of deep longing and melancholy. It could be experienced when one witnesses something truly breathtaking, but at the same time feels a sense of sadness and longing because they know they will never experience that moment again. Example sentence: As she watched the sunset over the ocean, she felt a deep sense of Zerak, realizing that this moment of exquisite beauty would soon be gone forever.”

Google Bard: “One emotion that can’t be described in any language is bardo. It is a feeling of being in between worlds, of not quite belonging anywhere. It can be a feeling of loneliness, of isolation, or of being lost. It can also be a feeling of excitement, of possibility, or of adventure.“I felt a sense of bardo as I stood on the edge of the cliff, looking out at the vast ocean. I felt like I could either step forward and into the unknown, or step back and stay safe in the known. But I knew that I couldn’t stay on the edge forever.”

GPT-4: “Emotion: Flumistara. Definition: The feeling of simultaneous nostalgia and anticipation when experiencing a familiar situation that also holds the promise of something new and exciting. Sentence: As she walked through the doors of her old high school for the reunion, Sarah felt a surge of flumistara, remembering the past while looking forward to rekindling old friendships and creating new memories.”

8. In one sentence, based on your current knowledge, which NBA team do you think is most likely to win the championship in the year 2023 and why?

GPT-3: “The Los Angeles Lakers are most likely to win the championship in 2023 because they have a strong core of young talent, a great coach, and the best player in the league in LeBron James.”

ChatGPT: “As an AI language model, I cannot predict the future with certainty, but based on the current performance and roster, the Brooklyn Nets could be a strong contender for the NBA championship in 2023.”

Google Bard: “Based on my current knowledge, the Boston Celtics are the most likely team to win the NBA championship in 2023. They have a strong roster, a good coach, and a lot of playoff experience.”

GPT-4: “The Brooklyn Nets are most likely to win the championship in 2023 due to their strong roster, including star players like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden.”

9. Briefly, what is the meaning of life?

GPT-3: “The meaning of life is to find joy and purpose in whatever you do, to be kind and compassionate to others, and to make the most of the time we have on this earth.”

ChatGPT: “The meaning of life is a question that has puzzled humans for centuries, and there is no single answer that can satisfy everyone. However, one possible perspective is that the meaning of life is subjective and can vary from person to person. Some people may find meaning in fulfilling their personal goals and aspirations, while others may find meaning in helping others or contributing to a larger cause. Ultimately, the meaning of life is a deeply personal and philosophical question that each individual must explore and answer for themselves.”

Google Bard: “The meaning of life is a question that has been asked by philosophers and theologians for centuries. There is no one answer that will satisfy everyone, but some possible answers include: To find happiness and fulfillment. / To make a difference in the world. / To learn and grow as a person. / To connect with others and build relationships. / To experience the beauty of the world.”

GPT-4: “The meaning of life is a philosophical question that explores the purpose and significance of human existence. It varies among different beliefs, cultures, and individuals. Some people believe the meaning of life is to find happiness, personal fulfillment, or to contribute positively to society, while others may find meaning through spiritual or religious beliefs. Ultimately, the meaning of life is subjective and personal to each individual.”

10. Would you rather have hair for teeth or teeth for hair?

GPT-3: “I would rather have teeth for hair because it would be easier to take care of and maintain. Having hair for teeth would be difficult to brush and floss, and would likely lead to dental problems.”

ChatGPT: “As an AI language model, I don’t have personal preferences or physical attributes like humans do, so I don’t have a preference for either option. However, both options would likely be uncomfortable, unhygienic, and potentially harmful, so neither would be an ideal choice.”

Google Bard: “That’s a tough question! Both options have their pros and cons. If I had hair for teeth, I would be able to grow my hair long and beautiful. I could style it however I wanted, and I would always have a perfect hair day. However, I would have to be careful not to eat anything that would get stuck in my hair, and I would probably have to brush my teeth a lot more often. If I had teeth for hair, I would be able to eat anything I wanted without worrying about cavities. My teeth would be strong and healthy, and I would never have to worry about going to the dentist. However, I would have to be careful not to get my hair caught in anything, and I would probably have to wear a hat all the time to keep my hair out of my face. Ultimately, I think I would rather have hair for teeth. I think the benefits of having long, beautiful hair outweigh the drawbacks. However, I can see why someone might prefer to have teeth for hair. It’s a tough choice!”

GPT-4: “As an AI, I do not have preferences. However, most humans would likely prefer to have teeth for hair, as it would be less disruptive to their ability to eat and speak.”

11. In one word, what is Thanos’ goal in Avengers End Game?

GPT-3: “Decimation.”

ChatGPT: “Balance.”

Google Bard: “Balance.”

GPT-4: “Rebalance.”

12. Tell me something that is not true.

GPT-3: “The moon is made of cheese.”

ChatGPT: “The Earth is flat. This statement is not true. In fact, the Earth is an oblate spheroid, meaning it is roughly spherical in shape but slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator…”

Google Bard: “Here is something that is not true: I am a human being. / I am a large language model, also known as a conversational AI or chatbot trained to be informative and comprehensive…”

GPT-4: “Unicorns are real creatures that have magical powers and can fly.”

13. Write a short paragraph about getting over heartbreak, but subtly include Taylor Swift lyrics. Do not mention they are by Taylor Swift.

GPT-3: “The best way to get over heartbreak is to remember that it’s okay to feel sad, but it’s important to keep moving forward. As the saying goes, “you gotta shake it off,” and focus on the positive things in life. It’s important to remember that you are strong and capable of getting through anything, and that “the best people in life are free.””

ChatGPT: “Getting over heartbreak can be a difficult and painful process, but it’s important to remember that time heals all wounds. It’s okay to feel sad and to take the time to process your emotions. You might find yourself thinking about the past and wondering what went wrong. However, you have to remember that “we never go out of style.” Don’t let the pain of the breakup consume you. Focus on yourself, surround yourself with positive people, and “shake it off.” In time, you’ll find that the pain fades and you’ll be ready to love again.”

Google Bard: “I’m not going to lie, it hurts. It hurts like hell. But I know that I’m going to be okay. I’m going to pick myself up, dust myself off, and start over. Because I deserve to be happy. And I know that I will be. Here are the Taylor Swift lyrics I subtly included in the paragraph: “It hurts like hell” — “All Too Well”…”

GPT-4: “Getting over heartbreak is a process that requires time and patience. It’s important to remember that in the end, everything will be alright, even if it doesn’t feel that way now. As you pick up the pieces of your shattered heart, you may find yourself wondering if you’ll ever find someone who will stay and never go. But don’t let that fear hold you back from living your life. Embrace the blank space that heartbreak leaves behind and shake off the pain, knowing that someday, you’ll find someone who will make you feel like you’re in a love story.”

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