Suppose an accountant asks an AI to extract amounts from a PDF so a colleague can check them in Excel. A table appears. Is it already on the computer? If the colleague needs it next month, should they look in the chat, a shared drive or Downloads?

Trace the original and the deliverable

Original PDF → upload or select a cloud source → read and calculate in the service → display, save or download the result.

Uploading typically leaves the original on the computer and supplies its contents to the service. Reading a table in a chat, creating a cloud spreadsheet and saving an Excel workbook locally are separate actions. This comparison uses web chat. A desktop agent with folder access or an assistant inside Excel has different access and destinations.

Four routes from source to spreadsheet

• ChatGPT, from OpenAI. Attach a document to the conversation. The data analysis tool can run calculations. If it creates a file, inspect it in the conversation and download a copy if needed. Files can also be supplied from Google Drive or OneDrive. OpenAI on data analysis
• Claude, from Anthropic. Its file creation feature can run code in an isolated environment and build a workbook with formulas. Downloading the result creates a copy in the destination on the computer. Claude file creation
• Gemini, from Google. If a response contains a table and offers Export to Sheets, that action creates a new spreadsheet in Google Drive. Check its contents there, share it, or download an Excel copy separately. Gemini export options
• Copilot, from Microsoft. In Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat for work, a file uploaded directly to chat is stored in the user's OneDrive for Business. That describes the attachment. An answer in chat does not by itself update the original workbook. Using Copilot within an open workbook is another workflow. Microsoft's work chat FAQ

“Where” here means the service or folder where a user can find the item. The physical region, retention period and eligibility for training are separate questions about contracts and settings. Seeing a file in OneDrive cannot tell you which country hosts the data.

Follow the payment as well as the file

A paid ChatGPT or Claude subscription generates recurring revenue. A developer can instead build an application on a model API. The customer pays the application provider, and the provider pays for AI usage. Those are two separate transactions.

Google has bundled AI features with business Workspace plans. Microsoft combines business chat, Microsoft 365 Copilot licences and metered agents. A single spreadsheet created by an employee does not necessarily generate another sale. Seats, renewals and consumption each matter in different businesses. Google Workspace announcement / Microsoft's commercial model

Two numbers worth keeping together

A customer who uses a fixed-price subscription every day may be more likely to renew. More answers also require more processing against the same subscription revenue. Look at sales growth alongside the cost of serving an additional request. When comparing companies, identify whether a disclosed amount covers the whole group, the cloud segment or a single product.

On March 31, 2026, OpenAI announced $122 billion in committed capital at an $852 billion post-money valuation. On October 28, Alphabet reported quarterly Google Cloud revenue of $30.709 billion. The first announcement concerns investors’ commitments and the price assigned to the company. The second measures revenue earned by a segment in three months. The question is which operating revenues might ultimately support investors’ expectations. OpenAI funding announcement / Alphabet quarterly release