Most local businesses hear “AI” and instantly think of ChatGPT. And while it’s powerful, stopping there is like buying a Swiss Army knife and only using the scissors.

Behind the spotlight, there are other AI platforms — each designed with different strengths. The businesses that learn to stack these tools are the ones that stay ahead of competitors, because they’re solving problems faster, marketing smarter, and delivering a better customer experience.

Here are three AI platforms (plus a creative bonus) that most local competitors aren’t using yet — and how you can put them to work in your business right now.

Claude AI: Turning Complexity Into Clarity

Claude, built by Anthropic, is the AI that thrives on clarity and structure. Where ChatGPT sometimes rambles, Claude feels like the colleague who can take a messy draft and polish it into something sharp, professional, and easy to digest.

How local businesses are using it:

1. Simplifying client communication. A CPA firm used Claude to rewrite tax letters into plain language, helping clients understand what actually mattered without calling three times for clarification.

2. Building trust with proposals. A home renovation company fed their standard bid template into Claude and asked it to reframe the proposal so it was more persuasive and benefit-driven. Win rates went up immediately.

3. Creating professional handouts. A dental office had Claude draft pre-appointment instructions in a friendly, reassuring tone, which cut down on no-shows.

Prompts worth stealing:

• “Rewrite this customer proposal so it’s written at an 8th grade level, but still sounds professional and persuasive.”

• “Turn this list of services into a 1-page brochure text that highlights benefits over features.”

Google Gemini: Your Research + Marketing Sidekick

Gemini is Google’s AI, and its biggest edge is how seamlessly it connects to the tools most businesses already use: Docs, Sheets, Gmail, and Ads. Where Claude is about clarity, Gemini is about insights and integration.

How local businesses are using it:

1. Competitor research on demand. A med-spa asked Gemini to scan local competitors’ websites and ad copy, then summarize strengths and weaknesses. It was like getting a marketing consultant’s report in minutes.

2. Instant ad campaigns. An HVAC company gave Gemini their budget, location, and main services. It suggested keywords, ad groups, and sample ads they could drop straight into Google Ads.

3. Smarter GBP posts. A restaurant used Gemini to draft weekly Google Business Profile posts tied to trending local searches, keeping their profile active and visible.

Prompts worth stealing:

• “Analyze the top 5 competitors in [city] who offer [service]. Give me a table of their offers, pricing, and positioning.”

• “Draft a Google Business Profile update about our fall promotion for [service] that highlights urgency and includes a clear call-to-action.”

Perplexity AI: Research With Receipts

Perplexity is the AI built for credibility. It doesn’t just give you an answer — it cites where it found it. That makes it ideal for creating content with authority or making informed business decisions without guessing.

How local businesses are using it:

1. Publishing blogs with real stats. An auto repair shop used Perplexity to pull the latest recall data and weave it into blog posts, making their content timely and authoritative.

2. Creating customer FAQs. A vet clinic used it to fact-check answers about pet safety and cite reputable sources, boosting trust with cautious pet owners.

3. Tracking industry trends. A fitness studio used it to research national wellness trends and adapt them locally, turning fresh insights into new class offerings.

Prompts worth stealing:

• “Find three recent statistics on why customers prefer small businesses over chains in 2024. Provide sources.”

• “What are the newest promotional trends in [industry] in the U.S., with citations?”

Bonus: MidJourney — Visuals That Make People Stop Scrolling

We live in a scroll-first world. If your visuals don’t catch attention, your message never gets read. MidJourney is an AI image platform that can turn a single sentence into an ad-ready design in seconds.

How local businesses are using it:

1. Social ad campaigns. A local pizza shop generated mouthwatering images for Facebook ads that outperformed their stock photo campaigns by 3x.

2. Event promotions. A boutique created stunning seasonal sale flyers that looked custom-designed, without hiring a graphic designer.

3. Brand refresh ideas. A salon tested different logo styles and Instagram grid aesthetics in MidJourney before paying for a full rebrand.

Prompts worth stealing:

• “A bold, modern flyer design for a [business type] in [city], advertising a fall promotion. Include space for a discount code.”

• “A lifestyle image showing happy customers enjoying [product/service], created in a bright, photo-realistic style.”

Final Word: Don’t Just Use AI — Stack It

Here’s the truth: no single AI platform will solve everything. ChatGPT is great, but Claude makes you clearer, Gemini makes you smarter, Perplexity makes you more credible, and MidJourney makes you more visible.

The businesses that treat AI like a toolbox — pulling out the right tool for the right job — are the ones that will dominate their local markets over the next few years.

Your competitors are still asking ChatGPT for blog ideas. You’ll be using AI to close deals, earn trust, and create the kind of marketing that makes people stop, click, and buy.