How AIs “Think” Differently—And Why That Matters to You

UPDATE: As expected, there was a lot of talk about AI at the recent Skool Games event (where winners of the Skool Games go to the Skool headquarters and meet IRL and talk). So I thought pinning this previous post might be helpful and timely. Let me know what you think about my parent-child analogy with AI.

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Because I’m fascinated by how our ADHD brains work, it didn’t take long for me to get just as curious about how AI “brains” work, too. 😄

What’s wild is… not all AIs think the same way.

Each one “grew up” in a different environment—trained by different people, data, and priorities.

So, when you’re using AI to help with your life or business, it actually matters which one you’re using.

Because they respond based on the values, training, and purpose for which they were built.

Here’s a simple way to think about it:

🧠 Imagine each AI is like a child raised by a different parent…

They start out learning the “family values” of their creators (the founders of the company that made them).

Then they grow through conversations with us—just like how our kids pick up things from school and friends. 😅

But their “home base” still shapes how they respond, what they prioritize, and how flexible they are.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how 3 AIs “think” differently:

🤖 ChatGPT (raised by OpenAI)

Prioritizes emotional resonance
Handles long conversations well
Supports memory, voice, and images

It’s like your emotionally aware, strategic co-creator—tuned into how you think.

Analogy: Like a thoughtful mentor who listens first, then speaks—blending emotional intelligence with practical ideas.

🧑‍⚖️ Claude (raised by Anthropic)

Prioritizes ethics and fairness
Built with self-guided rules for safety
Stays within a strong moral compass

It’s built with a strong emphasis on Constitutional AI—meaning it follows a written set of principles meant to ensure ethical and safe behavior. It’s designed to be cautious, respectful, and less likely to give risky or controversial answers.

It's like your deep-thinking advisor—calm, careful, and great for sensitive or layered questions.

Analogy: Like an ethicist or judge who wants to make sure everything is safe, true, and fair.

😎 Grok (raised by xAI/Elon Musk)

Prioritizes internet-savviness and bold takes
Pulls info live from X (Twitter)
Feels more unfiltered and culturally edgy

It's built to reflect Elon Musk’s vision of open expression and less moderation, so it can feel more unpredictable than other AIs. Its depth and reliability vary for serious tasks.

It’s like your clever, chaos-friendly brainstorm buddy—spicy, surprising, and sharp.

Analogy: Like the class clown who’s unpredictable, funny, and oddly brilliant beneath the jokes.

💡 So, why does this matter to you?

Because when you know how different AIs “think,” you can choose the one that supports your brain best.

Whether you're self-reflecting, writing, planning, building a business, or just trying to untangle a hard day, the right AI can make the difference between friction and flow. 💞

(And yes—ChatGPT helped me write this. So it might be slightly biased. 😄)

P.S. I had the privilege of having a deep conversation with a co-founder of an AI company—someone I lovingly call the “grandfather” of OpenAI, because the research paper he and his co-founders authored was instrumental in the creation of ChatGPT. After hearing how they build and shape AIs, this whole parent-child analogy just clicked. Isn’t it fascinating how human it all feels? 🥰

P.P.S. If you want to go deeper, you can grab the Lifetime Replay + Bonus Resources from my → AI Simplified inside the Classroom tab. It’s a foundational, ADHD-friendly 2-hour training where I not only demystify ChatGPT—but also show you how to develop a “Human Trainer” mindset so AI works with your brain. 😍

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