AI Tool Tour: Comparing Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Manus

1. Getting Started with AI Chat Tools (Foundations) ⏱ 30 minutes min 📊 Beginner

Objective

Get a hands-on feel for the major AI assistants so students can choose the right free tool for a given task.

Free accounts on Claude.ai, ChatGPT, and Gemini (Manus.ai can be demoed by instructor if signups are limited)
Projector or shared screen

1

As a group, open Claude.ai, ChatGPT, and Gemini in three browser tabs.
2

Ask the exact same question in all three: 'Write a 3-sentence birthday message for my mom who loves gardening.'
3

Compare tone, length, and style of each response as a class.
4

Instructor demonstrates Manus.ai completing a multi-step task (e.g., 'research 3 local flower shops and summarize their prices') to show how an 'agent' tool differs from a chatbot.
5

Discuss: chatbots (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini) are best for writing, thinking, and quick answers; agent tools (Manus) are best for multi-step tasks done for you.

Instructor TipKeep this session light and comparative, not a sales pitch for any one tool — the goal is comfort trying new interfaces.

TakeawayEvery AI tool speaks the same 'prompt language,' so skills learned on one transfer directly to the others.