The best AI chatbots of 2026: I tested ChatGPT, Copilot, and others to find the top tools around

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.

My child says an AI chatbot is their friend – what should I do?

As AI becomes increasingly more entrenched into our everyday lives, a new survey in the UK has found that nearly a third of children using AI chatbots said that they would describe the technology as ...
CNET

This AI Chatbot Is Built to Disagree With You, and It's Better Than ChatGPT

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 ...

Patients Are Using AI For Medical Advice. Here’s How To Do It Safely.

Five practical guardrails to get accurate, private and actionable health answers from AI chatbots — what to ask, what to avoid.
Forbes

Asking Your Therapist To Confer With The AI Chatbot That’s Giving You Off-The-Cuff Mental Health Advice

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Dr. Lance B. Eliot is a world-renowned AI scientist and consultant. In today’s column, I examine an interesting and controversial ...