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CNET
2 days ago
- CNET
GPT-5's Voice Mode Can Hold a Decent Conversation, but Please Don't Talk to ChatGPT in Public
Sitting in the lobby of the auto body shop waiting for a repair estimate, I realized I'd forgotten my earbuds. Normally, that's not a major issue, but I was talking to my phone. And I wasn't talking to another person. I was talking to ChatGPT. It felt as embarrassing as asking Siri a question from across the room or joining a Zoom meeting sans headphones in an open office. I'm testing the advanced voice mode that comes with GPT-5, OpenAI's latest version of the generative AI model behind ChatGPT. GPT-5 dropped this summer after many months of speculation and delays, promising AI users a faster and smarter chatbot experience. The jury's still out on whether or not OpenAI has delivered. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET's parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.) GPT-5 includes improvements to its advanced voice mode, which is essentially a way for you to literally talk to ChatGPT and have it respond in the voice of your choosing. Free users like me now have access to the advanced version (free users previously only had access to basic voice mode), and paying subscribers will receive higher usage limits. Another new GPT-5 feature allows you to choose what kind of personality you want your AI to mimic, including sassy, nerdy and robotic avatars. To use voice mode, open ChatGPT, tap the audio button next to the prompt window where you would enter an instruction and begin chatting. You can change which voice ChatGPT uses by tapping the settings icon in the upper right hand corner on the mobile app (two bars stacked on top of each other with circles on them). More human AI voices? How my experience went I decided to try to speak to ChatGPT like I would a friend, like a more enthusiastic version of myself. The AI laughed when I started the call with a spirited "Heyyyy girlfriend!" which felt both funny and condescending. ChatGPT's voice flowed very naturally in a familiar cadence, similar to the way I would talk to a particularly friendly customer service agent. That made sense as the chatbot itself told me that the upgraded advanced voice mode helped make it sound more human. The voice I used, ember, would often take pauses for breaths, like a human would during a longer sentence. I thought that was kind of weird, since while ChatGPT was doing its best impression of a human, we both knew it didn't actually need to pause to catch its breath. In my conversation with ChatGPT, it was more empathetic than I expected. It asked me how I was doing, and I said not well and told it about my car accident. In our five-minute chat, it would bookend many of its responses with empathetic statements, like saying it was sorry I was having a bad week and agreeing that dealing with insurance can be a headache. (Has ChatGPT ever had to call an insurance agent or even experienced a headache? I think not). While a sympathetic robot ear might not seem like a big deal, it can be a sign of a bigger problem. Sycophantic AI, the term used to describe when AI is overly affectionate or emotional, can be frustrating for users just looking for information. It can also be dangerous for people who use AI as therapists or mental health counselors, something OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has warned ChatGPT users against. Previous versions of ChatGPT have been pulled and re-released after issues with sycophantic tendencies. I also asked ChatGPT more factual questions, like the average cost of car repair labor in North Carolina and where I could go to get a second repair estimate. It responded more like a friend would than a chatbot, which may not be the most helpful. For example, when I typed the same request into ChatGPT on my laptop, it pulled up a map with the list of stores, along with more information like pricing info and store hours. But when I was chatting with ChatGPT voice mode, it brought up fewer options and described them based on what I assume are the shop's marketing language and customer reviews, using phrases like "They've been around for quite a while" and saying that one shop is "known for quality service". You also don't get any links or sources with voice mode, which I don't love. ChatGPT automatically transcribes voice chats, so you can see the difference in the level of detail given in regular text prompts (left) and voice chats (right). Screenshot by Katelyn Chedraoui/CNET Using ChatGPT voice as a sounding board One of the things voice mode is well-suited for is being a brainstorming partner, a literal wall to bounce ideas off of. I asked it to help me plan a sky-diving-themed birthday party, and it both helped me develop new ideas and refine the ones I already had. I interrupted ChatGPT while it was speaking a couple of times, and it was able to pivot quickly. I also tend to talk quickly, and the chatbot kept up and didn't miss any of my thoughts. I let myself ramble and steer the conversation off track, and ChatGPT didn't blink a virtual eye. Most importantly, when I asked it a question about an earlier topic, it could pick up where we left off. Improvements to ChatGPT's memory are to thank for that important consideration. Now Playing: The Hidden Impact of the AI Data Center Boom 05:13 Should you use ChatGPT voice mode? Overall, I think voice mode is nice as another way to use ChatGPT, but it's only situationally useful. If you need in-depth research and more detailed information, voice mode isn't going to be right for you. But if you just want to talk to someone (rather, something) or work through a problem out loud, voice mode is a nice alternative to having to articulate your thoughts and type them out. I still believe that we haven't normalized talking to AIs in public spaces, especially without headphones. But it can be a useful alternative for people who think better aloud. For more, check out how AI is changing search engines and the best AI image generators.
CNET
29-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
New Speed Test Data Reveals the Nation's Fastest Internet Service Provider
There's been a lot of talk about internet speed lately. From various company taglines -- "Don't take slow for an answer" -- to the latest news about Japan's internet data transmission record, it's all about the speed. Just recently, Ookla released its Speedtest Connectivity Report for the first six months of 2025, and AT&T Fiber topped the list as the country's fastest fixed internet service provider. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) What does that mean? Does it tell us that AT&T offers the fastest internet plan available to customers nationwide? No. This report doesn't look at an ISP's top speed (the fastest plan the company offers) but instead considers the average internet speed that subscribers experience across all levels of the provider's plans. Many variables exist (including the internet connection type), so when you sign up for internet service, you shouldn't assume AT&T will always be your fastest option. That said, Ookla's report shows AT&T Fiber at the top of its charts, registering a median download speed of just over 363 megabits per second in tests collected by Ookla from January through June 2025. It's the third Ookla speed test report in a row (going back to the first half of 2024) in which AT&T Fiber has claimed the pole position. Overall, AT&T Fiber led Ookla's report with a 78.33 Speed Score, a unique metric the company uses to consider a provider's download and upload speeds and latency. Frontier Fiber, which is in the process of being purchased by Verizon, came close to nudging AT&T out of first place, recording a median download speed of 359Mbps and notching a Speed Score of 78.30. Third place was held by Verizon Fios, the company's own fiber internet service, while the cable internet providers Cox, Xfinity and Spectrum rounded out the rest of Ookla's list. Ookla Ookla is an internet speed-test company that collects data via its tool, which gathers insights from millions of daily customer uses. CNET frequently uses those findings to help inform our internet service provider reviews, as well as our city and state geo pages. Locating local internet providers Why do we care about speed tests? In CNET's ISP reviews, we stress that speed test data can be a helpful diagnostic tool -- a snapshot of your internet connection performance at any given moment. For example, it can help you pinpoint when and where your connection may be laggy. But it's not an exact science. Many things can affect a speed test, including whether or not you're using Wi-Fi or a hardwired Ethernet connection, the time of day you're running the test and so on. To be included in Ookla's Speedtest Connectivity Report, an ISP must appear in 3% or more of the data collected during the six-month window. That means some fiber-optic internet providers across the country might perform especially well, but if they're more regional and unable to hit that 3% minimum share of the national market, they won't appear in the top. Google Fiber is a good example. It was the fastest provider in nine of the country's top 100 cities (second only to AT&T Fiber), but it didn't reach enough households to meet Ookla's mark for national inclusion. Yes, nabbing the top spot is certainly something a company like AT&T can brag about. Last year, after the first of its three wins in a row, CEO John Stankey said in a press release, "The Ookla results confirm what we already knew in the market: the fiber experience wins by a mile. Pair our award-winning fiber with the largest wireless network in North America, and AT&T is the clear choice to connect customers anytime, anywhere.' But just because a company wins kudos as the fastest ISP in the country -- or a particular state or city -- doesn't automatically make it the best internet provider for you. Though AT&T Fiber places highly in CNET's overall ISP rankings (and is tied with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet for the highest score among all internet providers in the most recent American Customer Satisfaction Index report), it might not be available in your area. There may also be a smaller or more regional provider that might make more sense for you. Speed test results can be important factors when choosing a broadband provider, but they shouldn't be your only consideration.
CNET
26-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
New Speed Test Results Reveal the Fastest Internet Service Provider in the US
There's been a lot of talk about internet speed lately. From various company taglines -- "Don't take slow for an answer" -- to the latest news about Japan's internet data transmission record, it's all about the speed. This week, Ookla released its Speedtest Connectivity Report for the first six months of 2025, and AT&T Fiber topped the list as the country's fastest fixed internet service provider. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) What does that mean? Does it tell us that AT&T offers the fastest internet plan available to customers nationwide? No. This report doesn't look at an ISP's top speed (the fastest plan the company offers), but instead considers the average internet speed that subscribers experience across all levels of the provider's plans. Many variables exist (including the internet connection type), so when you sign up for internet service, you shouldn't assume AT&T will always be your fastest option. That said, Ookla's report shows AT&T Fiber at the top of its charts, registering a median download speed of just over 363 megabits per second in tests collected by Ookla from January through June 2025. It's the third Ookla speedtest report in a row (going back to the first half of 2024) in which AT&T Fiber has claimed the pole position. Overall, AT&T Fiber led Ookla's report with a 78.33 Speed Score, a unique metric the company uses to consider a provider's download and upload speeds and latency. Frontier Fiber, which is in the process of being purchased by Verizon, came close to nudging AT&T out of first place, recording a median download speed of 359Mbps and notching a Speed Score of 78.30. Third place was held by Verizon Fios, the company's own fiber internet service, while the cable internet providers Cox, Xfinity and Spectrum rounded out the rest of Ookla's list. Ookla Ookla is an internet speed-test company that collects data via its tool, which gathers insights from millions of daily customer uses. CNET frequently uses those findings to help inform our internet service provider reviews, as well as our city and state geo pages. Locating local internet providers Why do we care about speed tests? In CNET's ISP reviews, we stress that speed test data can be a helpful diagnostic tool -- a snapshot of your internet connection performance at any given moment. For example, it can help you pinpoint when and where your connection may be laggy. But it's not an exact science. Many things can affect a speed test, including whether or not you're using Wi-Fi or a hardwired Ethernet connection, the time of day you're running the test and so on. To be included in Ookla's Speedtest Connectivity Report, an ISP must appear in 3% or more of the data collected during the six-month window. That means some fiber-optic internet providers across the country might perform especially well, but if they're more regional and unable to hit that 3% minimum share of the national market, they won't appear in the top. Google Fiber is a good example. It was the fastest provider in nine of the country's top 100 cities (second only to AT&T Fiber), but it didn't reach enough households to meet Ookla's mark for national inclusion. Yes, nabbing the top spot is certainly something a company like AT&T can brag about. Last year, after the first of its three wins in a row, CEO John Stankey said in a press release, "The Ookla results confirm what we already knew in the market: the fiber experience wins by a mile. Pair our award-winning fiber with the largest wireless network in North America, and AT&T is the clear choice to connect customers anytime, anywhere.' But just because a company wins kudos as the fastest ISP in the country -- or a particular state or city -- doesn't automatically make it the best internet provider for you. Though AT&T Fiber places highly in CNET's overall ISP rankings (and is tied with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet for the highest score among all internet providers in the most recent American Customer Satisfaction Index report), it might not be available in your area. There may also be a smaller or more regional provider that might make more sense for you. Speed test results can be important factors when choosing a broadband provider, but they shouldn't be your only consideration.
