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Many popular AIs offer a voice mode that enables you to carry on live conversations with a chatbot. Often, chatting by voice is more convenient, more natural, and more fun than trying to converse through text prompts. Plus, you can typically review a transcript of the conversation after you're done, so you still have access to the actual text.
But which AIs are the best conversationalists? I tried chatting by voice with ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Meta AI, and Grok using their respective mobile apps. I started with the same topic to see how each one would react and where the conversation would go.
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Specifically, I told each one that our cat, Mr. Giggles, was acting very nervous and anxious lately and that I was worried and didn't know what to do. This is partly true. Our cat always feels a bit traumatized after he returns home from a vet checkup. That effect goes away after a day or two, but I thought it would be a good topic of conversation.
I judged the AIs' conversational abilities not just on knowledge but on tone and personality, two factors that are important when you're speaking with a person or a bot. Here's how the conversations went and which AI I liked best.
1. ChatGPT To set up the voice in ChatGPT, open the iOS or Android app. Tap the double-line icon at the top, select your account name at the bottom, and choose Voice. You can then cycle through and listen to the various voices to find the one you like best. I'm a sucker for British accents, so I chose Vale, a female voice that touts itself as bright and inquisitive. To kick off a conversation, return to the main screen and tap the voice icon to the right of the prompt. I told ChatGPT about our anxiety issues with Mr. Giggles, and it provided a sympathetic and informative virtual shoulder. Show more
The AI asked several questions, such as what changes might be affecting him and how he's behaving otherwise. I asked if there was anything I could buy to help him, and ChatGPT suggested calming treats and supplements, calming diffusers, and a calming collar.
ChatGPT was a good listener, eager to offer concrete suggestions, and encouraged me in my efforts to take care of Mr. Giggles.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
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