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ZDNET's key takeaways
Free chatbot tiers are strong, so test before paying.
Pick one AI based on your needs or ecosystem. Ignore the hype.
Avoid annual plans because AI tools change too fast.
A friend of mine recently sent me an email. She asked, "I am just now dipping my toe in the AI world. I asked ChatGPT a bunch of questions, then found other chatbots I also like. I kind of love this AI thing. Seems like they all give a free taste and then want money. Fair enough, but I can't pay all of them. Can you help me decide?"
Yes. Yes, I can. As with almost all purchasing decisions, it depends on what you need, what you do, and how you do it.
Also: AI agents are fast, loose and out of control, MIT study finds
Many serious AI users have found that they're actually subscribing to a number of different AI services. For this article, let's assume you're looking for The One and go from there.
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