By Vicky Sidler | Published 17 January 2026 at 12:00 GMT+2

Some days, you just want a robot to do the work for you. Not “write a poem in the style of a squirrel” work. Real work. Spreadsheet work. The kind of work that makes your eyes glaze over while your coffee goes cold.

That’s what Forbes contributor Rachel Wells set out to test when she compared ChatGPT 5.2, Claude, and Gemini in a side-by-side challenge. One prompt. No nudging. No second chances. Just a straight-up task: build a structured job search system inside a spreadsheet for a mid-to-senior project manager hunting for $120,000 hybrid roles in New York.

You might think all three would nail it. After all, they’re trained on more data than you’ll read in a lifetime. But when it comes to business use, the question isn’t how smart an AI sounds. It’s whether you can actually use what it gives you without needing to reorganize your entire life first.

TL;DR:

Here’s what small business owners can take from the AI battle:

• Gemini gave fast, clear tables, but no spreadsheet

• Claude gave instructions, formatting, and detail overload

• ChatGPT 5.2 gave a finished spreadsheet layout, ready to use

• If you want done-for-you, GPT 5.2 wins. If you like building it yourself, Claude or Gemini might suit you

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Table of Contents:

What Was the Test Prompt?

The test wasn’t fluff. It was a real-world prompt built for knowledge work.

Wells asked all three tools to act as a career strategist and design a full job search system. It had to include five separate tabs covering tracking, daily workflow, role selection, resume checks, and LinkedIn messages.

The catch? It had to fit into Notion or Google Sheets and be realistic for someone with only 10 hours a week. In short, specific, structured, and practical. Not a wish list. Not vague advice. Actual usable outputs.

This is the kind of structured thinking small businesses need from AI too. Not vague “marketing tips” but ready-to-implement ideas you don’t need to clean up later.

What Gemini Did:

Gemini gave tables. Not bad ones, either. They had a clear structure and could be exported into Google Sheets.

But they weren’t formatted as a spreadsheet and didn’t come with any practical structure or layout.

If you’re the kind of person who enjoys copying, pasting, and manually adjusting columns while muttering under your breath, Gemini delivers. Fast.

Just don’t expect plug-and-play.

What Claude Did:

Claude went hard on the detail. The response included instructions for formatting, rules to follow, and extra implementation tips.

That might sound helpful until you try to actually use it.

Wells pointed out that the sheer volume of text made her brain ache. For someone trying to find a job (or in your case, run a business), extra cognitive load is the last thing you need.

Claude’s output felt like a know-it-all intern who dumped everything in a shared drive and left you to sort it out. Helpful in theory. Exhausting in practice.

What ChatGPT 5.2 Did:

Here’s where it got interesting.

GPT 5.2 took nearly 10 minutes to respond. That’s a long time for a chatbot. But in return, it built a structured, clean spreadsheet layout that looked like a professional made it.

There was no need to copy tables, guess the layout, or mentally decode instructions. The system was ready to go.

And if you’ve ever tried to build something in Google Sheets while under pressure, you know that alone is a small miracle.

This is where GPT 5.2 showed its value for business use. It didn’t just explain what to do. It did the thinking and built the structure too.

What This Means for Small Business Owners:

You’re busy. You don’t have time to test five tools and combine the best parts into something useful.

This test reminds us that AI is not one-size-fits-all.

If you want fast answers and plan to build the thing yourself, Gemini or Claude will work. But if you want a usable framework that saves you the hassle of translation, GPT 5.2 is currently leading the pack.

That’s important for marketing too. Whether you’re writing content, planning campaigns, or analysing customer feedback, the best AI tool is the one that reduces work, not just explains it.

So Which AI Should You Use?

The real question isn’t which AI is best overall. It’s which one fits your working style.

If you like detailed instructions and don’t mind formatting things yourself, Claude will feel like a helpful tutor.

If speed matters and you’re comfortable stitching bits together, Gemini offers clarity and quick turnaround.

But if you want to type something in and get something useful back—especially for structured business tasks—GPT 5.2 is worth your attention.

Just make sure you still fact-check.

Because no matter how advanced the model gets, it’s still a robot playing with probabilities. It’s not a co-founder. Not yet.

If your marketing feels like a pile of scattered prompts and templates with no clear output, you’re not alone. Clarity is rare. But it’s what turns ideas into sales.

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Related Articles:

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If you're testing GPT 5.2 or Claude to create content, this article gives welcome news: AI won't tank your rankings as long as the output is genuinely helpful.

2. Why Replacing Copywriters With AI Will Destroy Your Brand

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3. AI Detectors Are Flagging Real Content and Hurting Trust

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Frequently Asked Questions About ChatGPT 5.2, Claude, and Gemini for Work

1. What is the main difference between ChatGPT 5.2, Claude, and Gemini?

ChatGPT 5.2 builds structured outputs that feel ready to use, like spreadsheets or plans. Claude gives detailed explanations and formatting instructions. Gemini delivers clean tables quickly but requires more manual setup. The best one depends on how hands-on you want to be.

2. Is ChatGPT 5.2 better for business tasks than previous versions?

Yes. ChatGPT 5.2 is more accurate and much better at creating usable outputs, especially for structured work like spreadsheets or strategy documents. It’s slower than other models but the quality makes up for it.

3. Can Claude or Gemini build full spreadsheets?

Not directly. Claude offers detailed instructions and layouts, while Gemini provides formatted tables you can copy into Google Sheets. ChatGPT 5.2 is currently the only one of the three that delivers something close to a plug-and-play spreadsheet.

4. Which AI tool is best for small business owners?

If you want fast drafts and are happy to tweak them, Claude or Gemini are fine. But if you need finished outputs you can actually use without extra formatting, ChatGPT 5.2 is your best bet right now.

5. Is ChatGPT 5.2 worth the extra wait time?

Usually, yes. While it can take longer to respond, it often delivers structured, finished layouts that save time overall. If you care more about getting something usable than getting it instantly, the wait is worth it.

6. Can these AI tools be used for marketing strategy?

They can help with brainstorming, research, and drafting. But for structured, high-impact marketing strategy, you’ll still need human judgment. Use them to reduce admin work or prep ideas—not to replace your strategic thinking.

7. Is AI good at building systems for business?

It’s getting better. ChatGPT 5.2, in particular, is now good at building templates, workflows, and checklists that are structured and useful. Just keep fact-checking and avoid handing over decisions entirely to the machine.

8. Can I run my business systems with ChatGPT and Google Sheets?

Yes, many owners are now using ChatGPT to create systems they manage in Google Sheets or Notion. The key is to test the outputs first and adjust for your real-world context.

9. Should I be worried about AI replacing business tasks?

Not yet. These tools are assistants, not replacements. They speed up prep work and structure, but they still depend on your input to make decisions, spot context, and apply nuance.

10. How can I make the most of AI tools in my business?

Start with repetitive tasks like checklists, email drafts, templates, and content ideas. Use tools like ChatGPT 5.2 to save time, but always review before hitting publish or sending to clients. Treat it like a junior assistant—not a decision-maker.