ChatGPT vs Perplexity vs NotebookLM 🤯 Who’s Best for Learning?

Analytics Vidhya
Analytics Vidhya•Mar 30, 2026

Why It Matters

Understanding each AI’s strength lets professionals craft a multi‑tool learning strategy, accelerating skill acquisition in the fast‑evolving GenAI field.

Key Takeaways

  • •ChatGPT offers a clear, step‑by‑step learning roadmap for aspiring scientists
  • •Perplexity provides web‑backed references and current course suggestions
  • •NotebookLM organizes personal notes into a study companion
  • •Each tool excels in distinct phases of AI education
  • •Combining all three maximizes learning efficiency and relevance

Summary

The video pits three AI assistants—ChatGPT, Perplexity, and NotebookLM—against each other to answer a single question: how to become a GenAI scientist by 2026. By feeding each platform the same prompt, the creator showcases how the tools differ in style, depth, and utility for a learner’s journey.

ChatGPT delivers a structured, mentor‑like roadmap, beginning with Python fundamentals and progressing through machine learning, deep learning, large language models, retrieval‑augmented generation, and agent‑based projects. Perplexity, acting as a research assistant, supplements a similar pathway with live web‑backed references, up‑to‑date courses, and source links, making it ideal for staying current on industry trends. NotebookLM shines when fed personal notes, turning raw material into an organized study companion that tailors revisions to the user’s own content.

The creator highlights vivid impressions: “ChatGPT felt like a personal mentor,” “Perplexity gave me real‑world references,” and “NotebookLM organized my own resources like a study buddy.” These anecdotes illustrate each tool’s niche—guidance, research, and revision respectively.

The takeaway is clear: no single AI dominates the learning spectrum. Savvy learners can boost efficiency by leveraging ChatGPT for direction, Perplexity for up‑to‑date research, and NotebookLM for personalized review, creating a holistic, adaptive education workflow.

Original Description

We tested ChatGPT, Perplexity, and NotebookLM with the same GenAI roadmap prompt—here’s what each tool does best.

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