Technologies

Microsoft Will Try to Fix Bing AI’s Errors and Bizarre Chats

The company says longer chats can send Bing around the bend when it tries to reflect the tone of the human side of the conversation.

Just over a week after launching its AI-powered Bing search engine, Microsoft is working to fix problems with factual errors and weird conversations stemming from the ChatGPT-related technology that’s under the hood.

In a blog post Wednesday, the software giant said longer chats can send Bing around the bend when it tries to reflect the tone of the human side of the conversation. It also acknowledged that Bing struggles to provide «answers that need very timely data,» such as live sports scores. And Microsoft said it will quadruple the amount of data the model uses to answer queries requiring hard facts, like numbers from financial reports.

«Lastly, we’re considering adding a toggle that gives you more control on the precision vs creativity of the answer to tailor to your query,» the company said in its post. Microsoft uses its in-house Bing technology to «ground» AI-boosted answers when accuracy is needed, but it relies on the language technology from partner and ChatGPT creator OpenAI when more «creative» responses are called for.

Bing’s new chat function, which puts the OpenAI technology front and center, can get weird in extended sessions of 15 or more questions, Microsoft said. The AI model gets confused or shifts its tone oddly. This is evident in a transcript of New York Times tech columnist Kevin Roose’s bizarre conversation with the AI, in which it confesses a desire to spread misinformation and become human, then tries to convince him to leave his marriage and be with it. People on the Bing forum on Reddit also spotlighted behavior showing Bing running amok.

There are also instances where it became defensive or refused to admit an error, according to Fast Company.

«This is a nontrivial scenario that requires a lot of prompting, so most of you won’t run into it, but we are looking at how to give you more fine-tuned control,» Microsoft said.

The company also promised to address technical issues, such as slow loading, broken links and incorrect formatting, and to look at adding new features like booking flights, sending email and sharing answers.

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

iPhone 17 Preorders Spike and Overall Phone Sales Aren’t Slowing Down Despite Tariffs

Global smartphone shipments saw a notable increase in the third quarter of 2025. Plus, preorders for Apple’s new iPhone 17 beat out the iPhone 16.

Despite tariffs and market uncertainty, global smartphone shipments increased 2.6% in the third quarter of 2025, compared to the same time last year, according to the International Data Corporation. Additionally, preorders for the iPhone 17, which launched last month, outpaced last year’s iPhone 16.

These increased sales include premium phones like the latest iPhones and Samsung foldables, suggesting yet again that pricier phones still sell in periods of economic strain. It’s a remarkable achievement, says IDC senior research director Nabila Popal, citing shrewd financing options as the reason people keep buying these high-end phones, which cost anywhere from $800 to nearly $2,000.

«[Phone makers] have mastered the art of innovation not only in hardware and software to entice upgrades but also in removing purchase friction. They have flawlessly combined cutting-edge devices with innovative financing models and aggressive trade-in programs that make the upgrading decision a ‘no-brainer’ for consumers,» Popal said in an IDC press release.

Apple sold 58.6 million iPhones this quarter, an increase of 2.9% over the same period in 2024, with more preorders for the iPhone 17 series than its predecessor. But Samsung wasn’t far behind, with its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 selling better than all of the company’s prior foldables. The company still reigns atop the phone market with 61.4 million phones sold, representing 19% of the market in the third quarter of this year — an increase of 6.3% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, Apple lands slightly behind Samsung with 18.2% market share this quarter.

The other phone makers trailing Apple and Samsung are, in order: Xiaomi, with 13.5% of the market; Transsion, with 9%; and Vivo with 8.9%. The remaining companies in the phones industry, from Chinese stalwarts like Oppo and Honor to Motorola and Google, make up the remaining 31.4% of the market for the quarter. All told, 322.7 million phones were sold, up from 314.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, according to IDC.

IDC’s findings for the third quarter continue the small but steady growth of phone sales over the year, including a modest 1% increase in the preceding three months — which includes the April deadline when President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs. In the second quarter, IDC cited midrange devices like Samsung’s Galaxy A36 and other phones that started incorporating AI. But even persistent tariffs haven’t slowed down people’s appetites for pricier phones in the third quarter.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, Oct. 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 14.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s Mini Crossword has an odd vertical shape, with an extra Across clue, and only four Down clues. The clues are not terribly difficult, but one or two could be tricky. Read on if you need the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.