The AI already on your phone and computer: Siri, Gemini and Copilot explained

You probably already have an AI assistant without having installed one. iPhones have Siri, Android phones have Gemini, and Windows computers have Copilot. You don’t have to do anything about any of them, and none of them stops you using ChatGPT or Claude as well.

Here’s what each one is, where it lives, and which to actually use.

The short version

Assistant	Made by	Where you’ll find it
Siri	Apple	iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch
Gemini	Google	Android phones, and as an app or website on anything
Copilot	Microsoft	Windows computers, and inside Word, Excel and Outlook

All three are the same kind of thing as ChatGPT and Claude: an assistant you type or talk to in ordinary language. The difference is that they come built into your device.

Siri (Apple)

Siri has been on iPhones for years, mostly setting timers and getting things slightly wrong. The latest iPhone software brought a much more capable version. You can now have a proper back-and-forth conversation with it, ask open-ended questions, and get it to do things in your apps, like adding a reminder or sending a message.

Where to find it: say “Siri”, or press and hold the side button on your iPhone.

Do you need to do anything? Only keep your iPhone up to date. The new Siri needs a fairly recent device (roughly an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, plus recent iPads and Macs). Apple is still calling it a beta, which means an early version that’s being finished. On an older iPhone you’ll keep the simpler Siri, which is still fine for timers, calls and directions.

Gemini (Google)

Gemini is Google’s AI assistant. On Android phones it has been taking over from the older Google Assistant, so if you say “Hey Google” on a recent Android phone, it’s likely to be Gemini that answers.

Where to find it: on Android, say “Hey Google” or open the Gemini app. On an iPhone or a computer, download the Gemini app or go to gemini.google.com. You sign in with your Google Account, the same one you use for Gmail.

Do you need to do anything? No. If you use Gmail, Google Calendar or Google Docs a lot, Gemini is worth a try because it can work with them. Some of the cleverer features need a paid Google plan.

Copilot (Microsoft)

Copilot is Microsoft’s AI assistant. New Windows 11 computers come with the Copilot app already installed, and many newer keyboards have a Copilot key.

Where to find it: look for Copilot on the taskbar or in the Start menu. There’s also a phone app and a website. You’ll need to sign in with a Microsoft account.

Do you need to do anything? No. Chatting with the Copilot app is free. If you pay for Microsoft 365 (the subscription that includes Word, Excel and Outlook), Copilot is also built into those apps, so it can help draft a document or make sense of a spreadsheet right where you’re working.

At work? Your employer may have its own version of Copilot or Gemini, with its own rules. Check before you put work information into any AI tool.

How are they different from ChatGPT and Claude?

Less than you’d think. They all answer questions, write, summarise and explain. The real differences are practical ones.

• Built-in assistants can do things on your device. Siri can set an alarm or send a text. Gemini can look in your Google Calendar. Copilot can work inside your Word document. That’s their big advantage.
• ChatGPT and Claude work the same everywhere. Phone, tablet, laptop, any make. Your chats, your set-up and anything they’ve remembered about you follow you around. That makes them a good “main” assistant for longer jobs: writing, planning, thinking something through.
• You can set up ChatGPT and Claude around you. Both let you tell them about yourself once, and keep related chats and files together in a Project. See Set up ChatGPT properly or Set up Claude properly.

One thing is identical across all five: they can all be confidently wrong. Check anything important, whichever one you use. Our guide When AI gets it wrong shows you how.

Which should I actually use?

Here’s a simple answer that works for most people.

1. Use the built-in one for quick, hands-free jobs. Timers, reminders, “text Sam I’m running late”, “what’s the weather tomorrow?” It’s already there, so use it.
2. Pick one main assistant for everything bigger. Writing a tricky email, planning a trip, understanding a letter. ChatGPT or Claude are both excellent for this and both are free to start. Not sure which? Read Claude or ChatGPT? How to choose.
3. If you live in Google or Microsoft apps all day, give Gemini or Copilot a fair go for that work, because they’re already in the room.

You don’t need all five. Trying to keep up with every assistant is the fastest way to get fed up with all of them. One built-in assistant plus one main one is plenty.

And the skills carry over. Asking clearly, giving a bit of background and checking the answer work exactly the same on every one of them.

Is it safe to use the built-in ones?

The same sensible rules apply as with any AI tool. Don’t share passwords, bank details or other people’s private information, and have a look at the privacy settings. Is AI safe? covers the basics in ten minutes.

Next step

Pick your one main assistant and set it up properly. Our free AI Setup Checklist walks you through it in under 30 minutes.