Generative AI Explained: ChatGPT, GPT, Siri, Grammarly – Are They GenAI?
Glance
Glance2025-04-03

If you’ve been scrolling through social media and noticing those stunning Ghibli-inspired illustrations generated by AI, you’re not alone. Generative AI is making headlines, sparking curiosity and debate across the globe. And if you’re someone thought to dig deeper into it and learn about which tools fall into this category, you landed at the right place. 

In this blog, we will answer some questions often on everyone’s mind like “Is ChatGPT a generative AI?” or “Is Grammarly powered by generative AI?”. We’ll break down what each tool does, and help you understand how they differ when it comes to generative capabilities.

Are They Generative AI? Let’s Break It Down

Let’s start by looking at some popular AI tools that you probably use every day. Meanwhile, if you’re curious to know what generative AI is and how they differ from traditional AI

Read: What is Generative AI? Your Easy-to-Understand Guide

ChatGPT – A Leading Gen AI

Built on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture, it produces human-like text in response to your prompts. Whether you’re looking for creative writing assistance or need help with a customer query, ChatGPT generates original, context-aware content in real time. Its ability to adapt to various topics and produce coherent responses makes it a prime example of generative AI in action.

GPT – The Engine Behind the Magic

GPT refers to a family of models designed specifically for generating text. These models are trained on massive datasets and can produce creative, coherent, and contextually relevant outputs. When you use tools like ChatGPT, you’re tapping into the power of GPT, which is the backbone of modern generative AI technology.

Grammarly – The Saviour Tool for Grammar Mistakes

Grammarly has become the go-to assistant for catching typos, grammatical errors, and style inconsistencies. So, is Grammarly a Genai tool? Or Is Grammarly like ChatGPT? While Grammarly uses AI to analyze and refine your text, it doesn't create new content from scratch. Instead, it reviews what you've written and offers suggestions to improve it. So, although it employs some generative techniques for rephrasing, its primary role is corrective rather than creative.

Siri – Your Reliable Virtual Assistant

Siri, Apple’s well-known virtual assistant, is designed to help you with tasks like setting reminders, answering questions, and controlling smart devices. So does Siri fall under the category of Gen Ai or is Siri an example of AI? The thing is Siri is not an example of Generative or AI. Siri does use natural language processing and some generative elements for its responses. However, its core functionality centers on retrieving information and executing commands, rather than creating original content.  

Alexa – More Than Just a Voice Assistant

Much like Siri, Amazon’s Alexa is built for efficiency in handling tasks and answering queries. It has evolved to offer more natural language interactions, but its main purpose remains service-oriented. Alexa’s responses are largely pre-programmed and based on external data sources. While it might use some generative techniques for conversational flow, it does not fully embody the creative, content-generating capabilities of true generative AI systems.

Glance AI – Personalized Shopping Meets Generative AI

Glance AI is an emerging tool that leverages generative AI to deliver personalized shopping experiences. It offers features like virtual try-ons, AI Styling and curated recommendations, transforming how you shop online. By analyzing your style preferences and past behavior, Glance AI generates personalized content that helps you visualize products before you buy.  

Grok – The New Contender

Recently, tools like Grok have entered the scene, stirring excitement with their unique approach to content generation. Grok blends deep learning with real-time data processing to offer a creative edge in conversations and content creation. Grok’s capabilities are similar to those of ChatGPT, marking it as another promising example of generative AI.

Quick Reference Table: Are They Generative AI?

Tool

Generative AI?

Why or Why Not

ChatGPT

Yes

Generates original, context-aware text responses using GPT.

GPT (Models)

Yes

Core technology designed for content generation.

Siri

Partially

Uses some generative techniques but mainly retrieves info.

Alexa

Partially

Primarily service-oriented with limited generative output.

Grammarly

Partially

Enhances existing text rather than creating new content.

Glance AI

Yes

Uses gen AI to provide personalized shopping experiences with virtual try-ons.

Grok

Yes (emerging)

Incorporates generative methods for content creation.

How to Know If a Tool is Generative AI or Not ?

To determine if a tool is generative AI, consider you ask these questions:

Does it create new content? Gen AI produces original text, images, music, or code, unlike traditional AI, which retrieves or processes information.
Does it predict and generate responses? Instead of following pre-programmed rules, it learns from data and generates new outputs dynamically (e.g., ChatGPT, Midjourney).
Is it capable of working without fixed responses? Gen  AI adapts and creates fresh content, unlike AI assistants like Siri, which execute predefined commands.
Does it improve with more data? Machine learning enables GenAI to refine its output over time.

Wrap Up

Generative AI is a fascinating field that’s rapidly changing how we interact with technology. From the impressive content-creating capabilities of GPT and ChatGPT to the task-oriented assistance of Siri, Alexa, and Grammarly, each tool offers unique benefits tailored to different needs. 

By understanding these differences, you can make informed decisions on which tools to use, ensuring you get the most out of your digital interactions.