Technologies
Google Testing Its Own AI Chatbot to Rival ChatGPT
Google is proceeding cautiously, but the company is an AI pioneer, and we’ll soon see its own AI chat tool.
Google has begun testing an AI chatbot called Apprentice Bard that’s similar to ChatGPT, an online service that in many ways is more useful than Google search, CNBC reported this week.
And we might see it soon. While reporting gloomy fourth-quarter financial results, Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said Google plans to make its own AI language model tools available to the public «in coming weeks and months.»
ChatGPT uses artificial intelligence technology called a large language model, trained on vast swaths of data on the internet. That type of model uses an AI mechanism called a transformer that Google pioneered. ChatGPT’s success in everything from writing software, passing exams, and offering advice, in the style of the King James Bible, on removing a sandwich from a VCR has propelled it into the tech spotlight, even though its results can be misleading or wrong.
Google’s Apprentice Bard tool is similar to ChatGPT, but the company also is testing a question-and-answer format for Google search results, CNBC said. Google Research leader Jeff Dean told employees in a 2022 meeting that Google is being more conservative with its approach to avoid «reputational risk» of AI that offers bad responses.
Google didn’t comment on the specifics of the report, but spokesperson Lily Lin said in a statement, «We have long been focused on developing and deploying AI to improve people’s lives. … We continue to test our AI technology internally to make sure it’s helpful and safe, and we look forward to sharing more experiences externally soon.»
AI technology already is all around us, helping in everything from flagging credit card fraud to translating our speech into text messages. The ChatGPT technology has elevated expectations, though, so it’s clear the technology will become more important in our lives one way or another as we rely on digital assistants and online tools.
Google AI subsidiary DeepMind also is involved. Chief Executive Demis Hassabis told Time that his company is considering a 2023 private beta test of an AI chatbot called Sparrow.
Google detailed transofmers in 2017, and it’s since become a fixture of some of the biggest AI systems out there. Nvidia’s new H100 processor, the top dog in the world of AI acceleration at least in terms of public speed tests, now includes specific circuitry to accelerate transformers.
The large language model (LLM) revolution in AI that resulted is useful for language-specific systems like ChatGPT, Google’s LaMDA and newer PaLM, and others from companies including AI21 Labs, Adept AI Labs and Cohere. But LLMs are used for other tasks, too, including drug discovery based on genetic data and stacking boxes. Notably, they’re good at generating text, which is why they can be used for answering questions.
Google, which endured bad publicity over the departure of AI researcher Timnit Gebru in 2020, has a program focusing on responsible AI and machine learning, or ML, technology. «Building ML models and products in a responsible and ethical manner is both our core focus and core commitment,» Google Research Vice President Marian Croak said in a January post.
Google is keen to tout its deep AI expertise. ChatGPT triggered a «code red» emergency within Google, according to The New York Times, and drew Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin back into active work.
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to create some personal finance explainers that are edited and fact-checked by our editors. For more, see this post.
Technologies
X Is Retiring Twitter.com. Update Your Account Now or Risk Lockout
The official retirement of the old domain is the next step in Elon Musk’s rebranding of the social media platform.
RIP Twitter.
X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, will retire its old domain. This comes with a warning for you: If you don’t update your account’s security settings soon, you could be locked out.
The shift marks another step in Elon Musk’s ongoing rebrand of the social network over the last two years. Musk, who bought Twitter in October 2022 and later renamed it X, has made sweeping changes to the platform’s features and policies.
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The company notified users that anyone using hardware security keys or passkeys tied to twitter.com must reenroll them under the new x.com domain. The deadline is Nov. 10. After that date, affected accounts may be temporarily locked until the update is completed.
By November 10, we’re asking all accounts that use a security key as their two factor authentication (2FA) method to re-enroll their key to continue accessing X. You can re-enroll your existing security key, or enroll a new one.
A reminder: if you enroll a new security key, any…— Safety (@Safety) October 24, 2025
X emphasized that the move isn’t related to a data breach or security issue but is a necessary step in the platform’s domain transition, marking the end of Twitter’s last remnants.
«This change is not related to any security concern, and only impacts Yubikeys and passkeys, not other 2FA methods (such as authenticator apps),» the company’s Safety account stated on X. Because security keys enrolled as a two-factor authentication method are currently tied to the former domain, reenrolling your security key will associate them with the new domain.
For most users, the change will go unnoticed. But if you rely on physical security keys, such as YubiKeys, or use passkeys for password-less login, you could be caught off guard if you don’t take action before the cutoff date.
Read also: Time to Delete Your X (Twitter) Account? It’s Quick and Easy
How to reenroll your X account
- Check your login method. If you use a hardware security key or passkey, it’s likely tied to twitter.com.
- Reenroll your key or passkey. Go to Settings & privacy > Security and Account access > Two-factor authentication and add your method under x.com.
- Update your saved credentials. Make sure your logins now point to x.com instead of twitter.com.
Technologies
T-Mobile Is Giving You the New iPhone 17 Pro for Free
You can trade in your current phone, in any condition, and get the iPhone 17 Pro for free.
If you’re an Apple fan, you might be eyeing the new iPhone 17 Pro, either for yourself or as a very generous holiday gift. If you’re thinking about purchasing the phone, you know it carries a hefty price, starting at $1,099. To lessen the strain on your wallet and to try to persuade you to join its team, T-Mobile is offering a free iPhone 17 Pro when you trade in your old phone that’s in any condition.
The only catch is that you must have the Experience Beyond plan. When you sign up for the plan, T-Mobile will give you the iPhone 17 Pro and issue bill credits over 24 months. Note that a $35 connection fee is required.
The iPhone 17 Pro is jam-packed with features. It’s available in a new cosmic orange color, but that’s only the beginning. This phone has a speedy A19 Pro processor, an upgraded 8x optical zoom camera and Apple’s largest iPhone battery yet. Plus, its iOS 26 software has a fresh Liquid Glass design.
T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond plan is $105 per month for one line. (If you sign up for autopay, T-Mobile will reduce the cost by $5.) The plan has a five-year price guarantee, so there won’t be any unexpected cost increases during that time.
With Experience Beyond, you get satellite services, unlimited talk and texts, premium data and hotspot, Netflix, Apple TV Plus and Hulu streaming services for free plus in-flight Wi-Fi and texting. You also get unlimited texts and up to 30GB of data in over 200 countries.
If you’re not interested in an iPhone 17, take a look at our full roundup of the best deals T-Mobile has to offer right now. If you don’t have or don’t want T-Mobile, check out the rest of the iPhone 17 deals.
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The iPhone 17 Pro is probably on many wish lists this year, and T-Mobile is helping you score one for free. By signing up for the Experience Beyond phone plan, you’ll save over $1,000. Just keep in mind you must trade in a phone (in any condition) to get this deal.
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Technologies
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge Is Down to Just $730 Today and It’s a Low-Profile Powerhouse
The Galaxy S25 Edge is down from $1,220 — a 40% savings on Samsung’s sleekest, slimmest phone yet.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge is built for people who want it all — a powerful camera, a sleek design and AI features that actually make life easier. From finding your favorite photo with a voice command to capturing stunning night video, this phone blends performance and personality in a titanium frame that’s as tough as it is beautiful.
Amazon has dropped the price of the Galaxy S25 Edge to just $730 — a 40% discount off its $1,220 list price. This is an excellent deal, but it could end at any time, so we suggest making your order sooner rather than later.
The Galaxy S25 Edge is fast. It has a 6.7-inch QHD Plus ProScaler display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, powered by a Snapdragon processor and paired with 12GB of RAM. It has 512GB of storage, which gives you plenty of room for high-res photos and 4K video, especially with its 200-megapixel rear camera and AI-enhanced selfie system.
Samsung’s Night Video mode helps you capture crisp footage in low light, while AI tools clean up background noise and even help you find specific photos by description. The virtual assistant can handle multistep tasks like searching for a restaurant and texting a friend — all in one ask.
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The titanium body is ultra-slim yet durable, with Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 for added toughness. And with Android 15 and One UI 7, you’ll get the latest software features and customization options.
For more Android savings, check out our best Galaxy S25 deals and top phone discounts.
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This is one of the best prices we’ve seen on Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, and it’s packed with premium features like a 200MP camera, AI-powered search and editing and a titanium build. If you’ve been waiting for a flagship phone that’s smart, stylish and seriously discounted, this is one of the most tempting Android deals this season.
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