I pushed eight free AI chatbots to their limits to find the best AI chatbots of 2026. To explore our top picks, check out ZDNET's chatbot-by-chatbot guide.

The rush to put out autonomous agents without thinking too hard about the potential downside is entirely consistent with ...

Belligerent bot bullies maintainer in blog post to get its way Today, it's back talk. Tomorrow, could it be the world? On Tuesday, Scott Shambaugh, a volunteer maintainer of Python plotting library ...

Explores our fatal attraction to AI, examining emotional dependence, manipulation, authority, and agency in work and life.

WASHINGTON – After launching an investigation and holding a Senate committee hearing on the dangers AI chatbots pose to children, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, is discussing his latest efforts ...

Is an AI subscription worth it? How to choose your premium chatbot plan - and what not to do ...

Katelyn is a writer with CNET covering artificial intelligence, including chatbots, image and video generators. Her work explores how new AI technology is infiltrating our lives, shaping the content ...

According to futurist Tracey Follows, "AI is meeting emotional needs that feel unmet in everyday life. A desire for safety, for predictability and stability. There is a wish to escape the judgment of ...

A new Pew Research Center survey finds most US teens use AI chatbots for schoolwork, fun, and advice, while holding mixed ...