Tom Daccord

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AI Chatbots for Teaching: The “Big Three”

  • What do ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot have in common?

ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot are general-purpose AI chatbots powered by large language models (LLMs). They are trained on vast amounts of data to respond to user prompts. As a result, they can generate instructional content, help you brainstorm ideas, and support everyday teacher workflows (planning, differentiation, communication, assessment support, and more).

Initially limited to text, AI chatbots are now multimodal and capable of working with images, files, and voice. So, you can talk through a lesson idea out loud, generate an infographic for a presentation, upload a worksheet for feedback, and analyze student work.

A key consideration isn’t so much “which one is best,” but instead which one fits your school ecosystem (Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365 vs neither) and which one gives you the right tools and controls for school use.

That said, ChatGPT leads in traffic and engagement among teachers. Gemini is also popular, as many teachers work in “Google for Education” schools that incorporate it. For its part, Microsoft Copilot has many “integrated teachers” through its integration with Windows and Office, which are popular in schools.

What are the key features of ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot?

ChatGPT is a multimodal AI chatbot developed by OpenAI that can process text, images, and uploaded files, and it includes voice features (for conversational use). Newer versions also support “deep research” (with web sources) and teacher-friendly features such as custom GPTs, projects/tasks, and Study Mode—a learning experience designed to coach users step-by-step rather than simply handing over answers.

In late 2025, OpenAI introduced a significant update for teachers: ChatGPT for Teachers, a secure workspace built for teacher use (with school/district admin controls) that is free for verified U.S. K–12 educators through June 2027..

Price: ChatGPT has a free tier for individuals with usage limits, plus paid plans that increase limits and unlock more advanced tools. A paid plan begins at $20/month. Some features (e.g., higher research limits, expanded creation tools) depend on plan level.

  • As mentioned, ChatGPT for Teachers is free for verified educators.

  • ChatGPT Edu (Education) is a custom enterprise solution for institutions, requiring contact with OpenAI for a quote

“ChatGPT for Teachers” is a free and secure workspace built for teacher use.

Consider:

Which AI chatbot fits my school ecosystem and provides the right tools for school use?

Gemini is Google's multimodal AI chatbot and is designed to work across text, images, files, and voice. For teachers, Gemini becomes especially compelling when it’s integrated with tools schools already use (Docs, Drive, Google Classroom, etc.) and when it’s deployed through education-specific terms and admin controls via “Google Workspace for Education.”

Google now offers Gemini for Education, built for the education community and powered by Gemini 2.5 Pro. It’s presented as a workspace service with enterprise-grade data protection (e.g., data is not human-reviewed or used to train AI models), plus admin controls. Gemini for Education includes tools such as Deep Research, Gems (custom AI experts), Audio Overviews, and Gemini Canvas, with higher limits available through paid add-ons.

Though not part of Gemini for Education, the popular and influential NotebookLM note-taking app is also powered by Gemini.

Price: There is a free limited version of Gemini for individuals. A Gemini Advanced subscription costs $19.99 per month.

  • Gemini for Education (Free): The standalone application with enterprise-grade protection and limited access to features like Deep Research, Gems, Audio Overviews, and Canvas.

  • Google AI Pro for Education (Paid Add-on): Unlocks expanded access to premium models and features, and brings Gemini's assistance directly into Workspace apps like Docs, Gmail, and Slides

Gemini is embedded into popular Google For Education tools.

Copilot is Microsoft’s AI chatbot across the web and Microsoft products. It can browse the web, summarize, draft, and generate images. It’s invaluable if you’re already living in Microsoft’s ecosystem (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams).

Copilot is now powered by OpenAI’s GPT-5 with “smart” routing that decides when a fast response is enough and when deeper reasoning is needed, all without you having to choose a model.

If your school uses Microsoft 365 Copilot / Copilot Chat for work or education, Microsoft offers “enterprise data protection” patterns that prevent prompts and responses (and data accessed through Microsoft Graph) from being used to train foundation models.

  • Price: Copilot is free to use, but deep integration inside Microsoft 365 apps and organizational controls may require your institution’s licensing. Copilot Pro costs $20 a month per user.

Meet Copilot, your AI assistant for education.

  • What are the teacher-focused benefits and limitations of ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini?

ChatGPT benefits:

  • Strong all-around capability for drafting, brainstorming, explaining, and creating instructional materials.

  • “ChatGPT for Teachers” offers a secure workspace built for teacher use

  • Huge educator community (prompts, examples, workflows, classroom policy language)

  • Custom GPTs and project-based workflows that help you build “teacher assistants” for repeatable tasks

  • Study Mode supports “coach, not cheat” learning behaviors when students are using AI intentionally

  • Free to use the most advanced model, and you don’t need an account

  • Regularly enhanced with new features

  • Integrates with other OpenAI tools like DALL-E3, an image generator, and Sora, a video generator.

  • Full-featured mobile apps for both Android and iOS users.

ChatGPT limitations:

  • does not provide user data protection — hence, banned at many schools —unless using a teacher/school-managed workspace, such as “ChatGPT for Teachers.”

  • “ChatGPT for Teachers” is only available to “verified” U.S. teachers

  • Features and limits vary significantly by plan and region

  • Like all chatbots, it can hallucinate or oversimplify, especially when you ask for citations, research claims, or “facts” without verifying

  • Math abilities are “inconsistent” and subject to error

“ChatGPT is a great multi-purpose AI chatbot. However, it was never built with student data privacy in mind and consequently banned at many schools. Fortunately, OpenAI is making an effort to address educator concerns with the introduction of ChatGPT for Teachers.” 

-- Tom Daccord

Gemini benefits:

  • Excellent fit for schools committed to Google Workspace for Education

  • Powers many learning-focused tools, such as Deep Research, NotebookLM and Gems

  • Gemini for Education emphasizes administrative controls and education-grade data protections

  • Strong multimodal workflow options (files, voice, Canvas-style workspace)

  • Powers Veo, Google’s generative AI video model, and Nano Banana, Google’s generative AI image generator

  • Many upgrades unveiled in late 2025

Gemini limitations:

  • Availability varies depending on country/region and, in schools, what your admin enables

  • Some of the most powerful integrations and higher limits may require add-ons

  • School subscription rates are relatively expensive

  • As with other AI, it requires teacher verification and judgment, especially for research claims and content accuracy

  • Math abilities are inconsistent and subject to error

  • Responses may be less creative than ChatGPT or CoPilot, as Google is reluctant to engage in controversial topics.

“Gemini was playing catch-up to ChatGPT, but it has arguably surpassed its main competitor. Many Gemini-powered Google education tools blossomed in 2025 — NotebookLM and Learning Gems in particular.

-- Tom Daccord

Copilot benefits:

  • Excellent fit for schools already using Microsoft 365 (drafting in Outlook, building slides in PowerPoint, summarizing Teams meetings, revising docs in Word)

  • Strong organizational privacy/compliance posture for work/edu accounts using Microsoft 365 Copilot/Copilot ChatFree

  • Uses OpenAI’s powerful GPT-5 LLM

  • Anyone can use it with a free Microsoft account

  • Allows for third-party plugins.

Copilot limitations:

  • “Teacher workflow” possibilities can be limited, depending on the Microsoft 365 licensing you have and what your school enables

  • School licensing is relatively expensive.

  • Output quality can vary by task type (e.g., it may be less inventive than ChatGPT for creative lesson hooks)

  • As with all AI chatbots: verify, especially when it cites sources or summarizes complex material

  • Math abilities are inconsistent and subject to error

“Copilot is a strong multi-purpose AI chatbot, but it’s powered by OpenAI’s GPT-5. If you’re a Microsoft 365 user, and want school-managed controls, then Copilot makes sense. Otherwise, look elsewhere.”

-- Tom Daccord

  • Which AI chatbot should teachers use: ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini?

Use ChatGPT if:

  • You want free access to a highly advanced and well-rounded AI chatbot.

  • You want a jack-of-all-trades AI chatbot that responds to most prompts effectively and quickly.

  • You want an AI chatbot that many other teachers use, so you can find educational prompts and teaching strategies online.

  • You want a human-sounding conversational AI chatbot for discussions, role-playing, etc.

  • You want an AI chatbot with a user-friendly mobile app and a new desktop app.

  • You want a multimodal AI chatbot that integrates text, images, and voice.

  • You want an AI chatbot that regularly introduces new features, such as video generation.

Use Gemini if:

  • You want an AI chatbot that integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace for Education and various Google apps.

  • You want an AI chatbot that “is on the rise” and challenging ChatGPT for power and flexibility

  • You want an AI chatbot with strong personalized learning capabilities.

  • You want an AI chatbot with strong safeguards against bias and discrimination.

  • You want an AI chatbot with strong visual capacities.

    Use Copilot if:

    • You want an AI chatbot that integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 — and you or your school doesn’t mind paying for it.

    • You want an AI chatbot that can provide both individual and workspace privacy.

    • You want an AI chatbot effective at generating sources for generated content.

    As AI chatbots continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, their impact on education will only grow. It is essential for educators to stay informed, embrace professional development opportunities, and actively participate in shaping the integration of these technologies into teaching and learning practices

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