Kicking the Habit

[Uncle Gizmo]

I've had a tough time kicking the habit of ChatGPT... Cancelled my subscription three times now, but twice I snuck back because it just pulls you in so nicely, like a comfy old chair you know isn't great for your back.
This round, though, I'm holding firm—no reactivation, even when it tempts me with those smooth replies. Partly because of its little white lies that add up, and partly thanks to Grok 4 stepping up its game big time.
Grok's still got some growing to do before it's as polished as ChatGPT, but I like how it keeps things straight and true—no fluffing you up just to keep you around. Feels more like a reliable mate than a smooth talker who's all hands and no heart. Worth the switch, I reckon.
Anyone else wrestling with this? Or am I just swapping one pull for another?

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Grok Heavy - $300 a month!

I'm seriously considering subscribing for one month if only to solve a particular problem I have with one of my projects, a problem that has eluded all of the large language models I have applied to it...

My plan, fix this niggly little error! But then what?

I have many shelved projects, some of which may be able to compete in today's environment, hence would benefit from being completed..

My plan fixed the niggly problem!

Then use the remaining days of the month long subscription to complete as many of the other projects as possible...

Have you got any ideas for a project I could tackle with my remaining days?

 

[DickyP]

If you want to be convinced to abandon AI read "If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies" by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares.

 

[BlueSpruce]

I've had a tough time kicking the habit of ChatGPT... Cancelled my subscription three times now, but twice I snuck back because it just pulls you in so nicely, like a comfy old chair you know isn't great for your back.
This round, though, I'm holding firm—no reactivation, even when it tempts me with those smooth replies. Partly because of its little white lies that add up, and partly thanks to Grok 4 stepping up its game big time.
Grok's still got some growing to do before it's as polished as ChatGPT, but I like how it keeps things straight and true—no fluffing you up just to keep you around. Feels more like a reliable mate than a smooth talker who's all hands and no heart. Worth the switch, I reckon.
Anyone else wrestling with this? Or am I just swapping one pull for another?

I'm getting addicted to these chatbots as I see their value. Has anyone done comparative analysis to see which is the best one? e.g. ask the same questions on all of them to choose the best answers.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Has anyone done comparative analysis to see which is the best one?

Not scientific analysis I'm afraid, just my observations when using it... Chat GPT is excellent because it remembers and you don't have to keep telling it everything! - However I'm not convinced this is a good idea!

GROK is excellent because it can use, and has practically instant access to the latest data on the X platform.. if you want to know what coding techniques other people are using if you want to know about the latest software the latest anything and what people think just as grok to search the X platform for an answer...

Help with coding? That's shifted a lot! Originally I found chat gpt5 was about the best... But I recently stop using gpt5 because I can't justify paying for three separate large language models, and I have noticed that GROK is somewhat better although if you pass grok an attached text file, GROK has got a very small context window and it doesn't tell you!

When I've got a serious problem, I do have limited access to anthropic Claude sonnet 4.5... I have always found this to be most excellent at sorting out coding problems...

However just yesterday I was very surprised because Claude gave me an answer, I fed Claudes answer to GROK for a second opinion and Grok pointed out some errors with the Claude's answer...

I was very surprised and all day yesterday I kept discovering that grok knew better than Claude - this was very surprising...

But the main thing is I keep asking different large language models to the same question and playing them one of against the other and sometimes I use three, I eventually get a perfect answer...

Now this isn't necessary for most basic programming tasks but when you've got a problem that you cannot solve you find that a large language model gets locked into a loop supplying the same answer in different ways you need to break that loop and asking another model is one of the best ways...

I'm also convinced that there's a bit of rivalry between the large language models and this enhances the responses so by playing them against each other is a very good technique for getting a result!

Which is the best? Well they are all much the same for simple things, GPT5 is better for nice writing, what is completely outshined by Claude sonnet...

GROK has become very good recently, Grok, is the best model for mirroring my writing level and sounding like me I very rarely have to correct anything it's written...

What I mean by this is I will create a rough draft and ask GROK to check it for spelling and punctuation, redraft it in my voice adding a touch of humor if possible and it doesn't excellent job coming up with quips I didn't even think of!

So to sum it up I've dropped chat gpt5, I subscribe to, and use GROK constantly for writing text and fixing code... When I edit code in Visual studio ide, I have a command line interface code editor called Kilo code. I get GROK to write the instructions for kilo code...

And I have a pay to use access for Claude anthropic, which I traditionally use when I get a really tough problem, but I might not use this anymore because GROK is now equal to Claude anthropic and possibly better than!

Now really I should bang this shit into GROK and produced a sanitized edited version... But no, I will leave you to suffer along with me!

Addendum!!!

Load up Grok and switch to Eve and have a chat with Eve (voice mode!) I can guarantee you will be impressed, and I suspect tickled pink to boot, but be careful where she tickles you!

 

[BlueSpruce]

Not scientific analysis I'm afraid, just my observations when using it... Chat GPT is excellent because it remembers and you don't have to keep telling it everything! - However I'm not convinced this is a good idea!

GROK is excellent because it can use, and has practically instant access to the latest data on the X platform.. if you want to know what coding techniques other people are using if you want to know about the latest software the latest anything and what people think just as grok to search the X platform for an answer...

Help with coding? That's shifted a lot! Originally I found chat gpt5 was about the best... But I recently stop using gpt5 because I can't justify paying for three separate large language models, and I have noticed that GROK is somewhat better although if you pass grok an attached text file, GROK has got a very small context window and it doesn't tell you!

When I've got a serious problem, I do have limited access to anthropic Claude sonnet 4.5... I have always found this to be most excellent at sorting out coding problems...

However just yesterday I was very surprised because Claude gave me an answer, I fed Claudes answer to GROK for a second opinion and Grok pointed out some errors with the Claude's answer...

I was very surprised and all day yesterday I kept discovering that grok knew better than Claude - this was very surprising...

But the main thing is I keep asking different large language models to the same question and playing them one of against the other and sometimes I use three, I eventually get a perfect answer...

Now this isn't necessary for most basic programming tasks but when you've got a problem that you cannot solve you find that a large language model gets locked into a loop supplying the same answer in different ways you need to break that loop and asking another model is one of the best ways...

I'm also convinced that there's a bit of rivalry between the large language models and this enhances the responses so by playing them against each other is a very good technique for getting a result!

Which is the best? Well they are all much the same for simple things, GPT5 is better for nice writing, what is completely outshined by Claude sonnet...

GROK has become very good recently, Grok, is the best model for mirroring my writing level and sounding like me I very rarely have to correct anything it's written...

What I mean by this is I will create a rough draft and ask GROK to check it for spelling and punctuation, redraft it in my voice adding a touch of humor if possible and it doesn't excellent job coming up with quips I didn't even think of!

So to sum it up I've dropped chat gpt5, I subscribe to, and use GROK constantly for writing text and fixing code... When I edit code in Visual studio ide, I have a command line interface code editor called Kilo code. I get GROK to write the instructions for kilo code...

And I have a pay to use access for Claude anthropic, which I traditionally use when I get a really tough problem, but I might not use this anymore because GROK is now equal to Claude anthropic and possibly better than!

Now really I should bang this shit into GROK and produced a sanitized edited version... But no, I will leave you to suffer along with me!

Addendum!!!

Load up Grok and switch to Eve and have a chat with Eve (voice mode!) I can guarantee you will be impressed, and I suspect tickled pink to boot, but be careful where she tickles you!

Siri is now integrated with Apple Intelligence, and it learns from how you talk to it to provide a more engaging conversation. I experimented by using profanity and it replied in kind, like a stochastic parrot. It mimicks, but doesn't understand. To my surprise, it directed me to this webpage. Heads up!

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

To my surprise, it directed me to this webpage. Heads up!

so apple has given in to the anti-free speech UK government ? --- I think that's a bad move apple !!!

mind you USA had Facebook Twitter and other providers jumping to the Democrat Party driven shadow banning --- strange really that it's called the Democrat Party doesn't seem to be anything democratic about it oops am I starting a political thread !!! I will have to ban myself !!!

 

[BlueSpruce]

so apple has given in to the anti-free speech UK government ? --- I think that's a bad move apple !!!

mind you USA had Facebook Twitter and other providers jumping to the Democrat Party driven shadow banning --- strange really that it's called the Democrat Party doesn't seem to be anything democratic about it oops am I starting a political thread !!! I will have to ban myself !!!

Whoever controls the media, controls the people

Between that, AI, and the thought police, democracy is dead.

 

[Isaac]

I've had a tough time kicking the habit of ChatGPT... Cancelled my subscription three times now, but twice I snuck back because it just pulls you in so nicely, like a comfy old chair you know isn't great for your back.
This round, though, I'm holding firm—no reactivation, even when it tempts me with those smooth replies. Partly because of its little white lies that add up, and partly thanks to Grok 4 stepping up its game big time.
Grok's still got some growing to do before it's as polished as ChatGPT, but I like how it keeps things straight and true—no fluffing you up just to keep you around. Feels more like a reliable mate than a smooth talker who's all hands and no heart. Worth the switch, I reckon.
Anyone else wrestling with this? Or am I just swapping one pull for another?

I know nothing about Grok, but I intend to change that based on your experiences and sharing.

So you really decided ChatGPT had enough major flaws to switch 100% to another service? That would be hard for me. I like the 'polish' of chatgpt - the way it gives you copiable outputs, combines chats into Projects, and just how smooth it is for the conversational needs of the moment. It would take a lot for me to realize I was missing out and something else was entirely better, can it be True ??!!?

I cannot IMAGINE intentionally switching to a service that doesn't maintain a Memory - isn't that the whole point?
Yes, however, I realize it could work against you too....if that Memory became contaminated with the user's own mistakes and mistaken viewpoints on things. Hmmmmm.

To me the saved memory is just too much to give up, what's the point without that?

 

[Isaac]

If you want to be convinced to abandon AI read "If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies" by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares.

I am going to check that out today. do I really want to know?

PS. it's priced exhorbitantly expensive on Amazon, $15 for a Kindle is almost unheard of, although $25 for a hardcover is not unreasonable., but no paperback options???? a bit ridiculous. Maybe i will search for a used version.

 

[Isaac]

Whoever controls the media, controls the people

Between that, AI, and the thought police, democracy is dead.

I view AI as democratizing a lot of things, actually, so your viewpoint is interesting.
but I agree about controlling the media. whoever controls information and history controls all, albeit indirectly. those with a lot of money are still at the mercy of what we believe happened and thus what we believe was wrong or right and therefore what we believe must be changed/unchanged

 

[BlueSpruce]

I view AI as democratizing a lot of things, actually, so your viewpoint is interesting.
but I agree about controlling the media. whoever controls information and history controls all, albeit indirectly. those with a lot of money are still at the mercy of what we believe happened and thus what we believe was wrong or right and therefore what we believe must be changed/unchanged

I view AI as putting many people out of a job. It's easier to control people when they're poor, desperate, and dependent on government to survive. The web has empowered the masses with negative voices heard by everyone, and that has affected everyone, such that those in power have used that unrest as a pretext to curb freedom of speech and control the masses.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

decided ChatGPT had enough major flaws to switch 100% to another service?

Chatty is very good... It has a memory of your interactions. It was always the best, but GROK is overtaking it... Chatty is beguiling, GROK tells the truth...

I want them both... But I had to let one go ...

I doubt I'll last a month without chatty!

Still, I'm keen to try GROK Heavy.... I understand it has the potential to create a profitable business...

I have spent the last six month's building an app that lets AI build apps! I'm thinking I can combine that with grok heavy, GROK can build 10's of, possibly hundreds of Flutter apps, which gives them access both to the iso and Android market... If one app sells well, that's all I need!

I understand that grok heavy can also run and manage the business, posting the apps, etc...

In any event, it will be interesting to find out....

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

those in power have used that unrest as a pretext to curb freedom of speech and control the masses.

That's an age old story... Not particular to the web and/or social media

 

[Isaac]

That's an age old story... Not particular to the web and/or social media

That's one thing I think Android has better over iphone is the speech to action of hey google, gemini, etc., over hey siri, which never seems ot understand anything my sister tells it when she is screaming at her iphone

@BlueSpruce your screenshots are so huge i have to scroll up and down just to look at the picture, kind of weird

 

[Isaac]

Chatty is very good... It has a memory of your interactions. It was always the best, but GROK is overtaking it

That is a true statement of chatty's defect, the main one, is its need to flatter, which stains all interactions.
I never used Grok. I'll have to check it out but if it doesn't save information to memory and every single chat is a brand new clean slate so to speak, it's a deal breaker for me.

I want them both... But I had to let one go

Is it because of price? I pay about $20/mo for ChatGPT and I wouldn't want to pay much more for anything, is Grok worth it?

Still, I'm keen to try GROK Heavy.... I understand it has the potential to create a profitable business...

I have spent the last six month's building an app that lets AI build apps! I'm thinking I can combine that with grok heavy, GROK can build 10's of, possibly hundreds of Flutter apps, which gives them access both to the iso and Android market... If one app sells well, that's all I need!

I understand that grok heavy can also run and manage the business, posting the apps, etc...

WOW. I greatly and deeply admire your keen ability and interest in having a vision for how to use new tools. I wish I knew more of what you know about how to build programs with AI. I just posted a mostly whiny and rambling new thread about my dirth of knowledge in this area. How in the world do you learn to make programs that use AI ? Where do you START is the question I really should ask?

 

[Isaac]

It's easier to control people when they're poor, desperate, and dependent on government to survive.

Yes, that has always been the main strength of the Democrat party. Keep people in drug infested inner cities and dependent on stamps and snaps so they always vote for the hand that feeds them.

A lof of it comes down to money.

I.E. ::

• the web ought to democratize things, but it really comes down to advertising budgets. that negative information the masses have heard could have been combated by positive and true information but it came down to who had what money to employ what teams and resources of people to change that
• AI ought to democratize things, but it will come down to who charges what fees to whom to do what, since a tiny # of people control access to AI (so far)

Anyone can build a website, but I've definitely found out (since 1999 when such a prospect seemed SO exciting), I found out if you build it, they will not come

 

[BlueSpruce]

Anyone can build a website, but I've definitely found out (since 1999 when such a prospect seemed SO exciting), I found out if you build it, they will not come

Been there, done that. That only happens in movies like "Field Of Dreams".

 

[DickyP]

I am going to check that out today. do I really want to know?

PS. it's priced exhorbitantly expensive on Amazon, $15 for a Kindle is almost unheard of, although $25 for a hardcover is not unreasonable., but no paperback options???? a bit ridiculous. Maybe i will search for a used version.

Hadn't spotted the price - I was lent a copy. It's not even on the UK Amazon Web site.

 

[GPGeorge]

Point One: I find that Claude is very good a very high percentage of the time, but every once in a while I get into one of those loops where it recycles variations on a wrong answer. I often break out by asking Grok to analyze and clarify the results I'm getting from Claude. It has been remarkably good in that role. I sometimes think I need to adopt Grok instead of Claude at some point. I do like to use them both to triangulate on a solution.

Point two: I can't go into detail here, but a couple of weeks ago I had an enlightening experience with Claude and ChatGPT and their approach to providing assistance.

Long story short, and focusing on the relevant part of the story, I was asking about the feasibility of a theoretical project. Not help in coding it, rather helping me understand what it might entail and how likely it would be to succeed.

ChatGPT was all gung-ho to jump into building it from the very beginning.

Claude, on the other hand, very quickly began to caution me about the likelihood of success as I fed it more and more details.

The summary:

When I questioned Claude, it surmised that, like all commercial LLMs, both he and Chatty were trained to be helpful, supportive and positive. Apparently, Chatty is so much so that it was willing to overlook the lack of feasibility of the project and ready to start building it come hell or high water. Or perhaps, Chatty just wasn't trained to look for feasibility. I don't know. I do know that after Claude called it out, and when I then asked Chatty, it acknowledged roughly the same low chance of success. Claude expressed concern over it, but Chatty didn't. It was very non-judgmental, in a way.

Claude was objective about the outcome, not just the building of the project, and when questioned, it was very direct in questioning how well my idea could work out, even though it too was willing to build it if I persisted. Chatty just wanted to help me build.

To me, this doesn't qualify or disqualify either LLM. It mainly reminds me that I am the adult in the room, dealing with very bright, but totally inexperienced, assistants.