ChatGPT Pro took the top spot as my preferred research app, overtaking Gemini Notebook, and I didn’t anticipate this change.

      Since its launch, I've been using Gemini Notebook, and for a considerable period, it was my primary app for nearly everything. Whether I was researching a subject, organizing my work, or learning something new, it became one of those applications I would instinctively open. With Google continually adding new features, I truly thought it would have a permanent place in my workflow.

      Then, almost without notice, ChatGPT Pro took over. I've been utilizing its Work mode for some time now, and at some point, it replaced Gemini Notebook. The transition wasn't abrupt; I oscillated between the two for weeks, but gradually I found myself using ChatGPT every single time. Eventually, I realized I hadn’t opened Gemini Notebook in days. Now, I honestly don’t use it at all.

      Everything I need, all in one place

      Using ChatGPT Work remarkably resembles using Gemini Notebook. I enter Work mode and start with a concept. Most of the time, my prompt is straightforward, like, “Let’s discuss this X topic.” From there, ChatGPT begins to create a workspace around that idea. One thing I appreciate is how everything remains organized. On the right, there are two panels: Outputs and Sources. Sources is precisely what it sounds like — it’s where all the references for the project reside. Personally, I prefer to include my own sources because I don’t completely trust AI to always select the right ones. If ChatGPT pulls in references automatically, I usually verify them before relying on the information. That’s simply my working style. However, if you're more comfortable letting AI handle the research, that’s completely acceptable too. It’s versatile enough to accommodate both methods.

      Shimul Sood / Digital Trends

      The Outputs panel is where things become particularly engaging. This is where ChatGPT can transform your research into something tangible, whether that’s a document, a spreadsheet, or even a website. I’ve already created several sites using Work mode, and it’s genuinely one of my favorite features. If you're interested in that process, I’ve elaborated on it in more detail elsewhere. What I enjoy most, though, is that Work mode is not just a place for information dumping. Like Gemini Notebook, it evolves into a workspace where I can ask follow-up questions, challenge concepts, refine my research, and continue building on everything I’ve gathered. Since all my sources remain visible alongside the discussion, it’s easy to add new references, eliminate outdated ones, or swiftly return to the original material whenever I need to fact-check something.

      Why I never looked back?

      At this stage, you might be wondering why, if ChatGPT Work feels so much like Gemini Notebook, I would switch at all. I had the same question when I first started using it. The answer is straightforward: Work mode is only one aspect of what I'm paying for. After I'm done researching or studying, I don’t have to switch to another app to accomplish my tasks. I can set reminders, ask ChatGPT to send me a message later, receive a daily briefing each morning, or automate small tasks I’d usually need to remember myself. It really acts like an assistant that stays with me throughout the day.

      Shimul Sood / Digital Trends

      Then there's the new Shopping mode, which has quickly become one of my favorite features. I recently completed setting up my workspace and needed a comfortable office chair with adequate lower back support. Instead of opening multiple browser tabs and comparing reviews manually, I simply asked ChatGPT, “Help me find a good work chair with proper lower back support.” Within minutes, it had compiled several excellent options, compared their features, highlighted the pros and cons of each, and made the whole decision-making process much simpler. I still made the final choice, of course, but it saved me a surprising amount of time. That’s precisely the kind of AI experience I seek — handling all the tedious research. And that's just the beginning. The same subscription allows me to generate images, create short videos, build websites, write documents, analyze files, and automate countless small tasks that would otherwise consume my time. Instead of managing a variety of different AI tools, I now have one platform that addresses almost all my needs.

      Shimul Sood / Digital Trends

      Gemini Notebook remains an excellent research tool, and I genuinely enjoyed using it. However, once ChatGPT Pro became the application where I could research, create, automate, and even shop, I gradually stopped accessing Gemini Notebook completely. That was when I realized I had replaced an entire workflow. ChatGPT Pro simply aligned better with how I work from start to finish.