Short answer: the current leading “AI search” options are Google (Gemini/AI Mode), Microsoft Copilot (Bing + Copilot), Perplexity, and Anthropic Claude. Which is “best” depends on your priorities (accuracy & citations, web recency, conversational help, privacy/customization). (blog.Google)

Quick comparison (strength, one-line caveat):

• Google (Gemini / AI Mode) — Strength: state-of-the-art models, deep web integration, AI Overviews and an “AI Mode” in Search for conversational summaries and follow-ups. Best for broad, high-quality web answers and multimodal queries. Caveat: can sometimes summarize imperfect sources, and advanced features may be behind premium tiers. (blog.Google)

• Microsoft Copilot (Bing + Copilot) — Strength: tightly integrated with Microsoft 365, strong multimodal/visual answers and enterprise features (Copilot Studio, agent orchestration). Best if you want a search assistant that works with files, Office apps, and enterprise data. Caveat: best experience often tied to Microsoft accounts/paid tiers. (Microsoft.com)

• Perplexity — Strength: search-first design that returns concise answers with source citations and often fast, practical results (and a paid “Comet” browser/offering). Best for quick factual queries where you want direct source links. Caveat: user reports of variable consistency; company is rapidly evolving. (ft.com)

• Anthropic Claude (with web search) — Strength: conversational assistant that now integrates web search and returns inline citations; designed for careful/safer responses. Best if you value safer-sounding, citation-backed dialogue. Caveat: web-search rollout has been gradual and feature availability varies by plan/region. (TechCrunch.com)

How to pick quickly:

• Want the most comprehensive web coverage + multimodal power: try Google AI Mode / Gemini. (blog.Google)
• Need strong integration with Office documents, teams, or enterprise data: try Microsoft Copilot. (Microsoft.com)
• Want compact, source-forward answers and a search-native experience: try Perplexity. (ft.com)
• Prefer a conversational assistant emphasizing safety and explainability with citations: try Claude (pay tier for web search today). (TechCrunch.com)

If you want, I can:

• run live side‑by‑side example queries (same question across 3–4 services) and show results,
• recommend the best for a specific task (research, shopping, coding, enterprise search),
• or give setup links and privacy notes for each. Which would you like?