The best AI chatbots of 2026: I tested ChatGPT, Copilot, and others to find the top tools around

I pushed eight free AI chatbots to their limits to find the best AI chatbots of 2026. To explore our top picks, check out ZDNET's chatbot-by-chatbot guide.
USA Today

Big Tech has a God complex. But can we have faith in AI? | Opinion

Holiday rituals and gatherings offer something precious: the promise of connecting to something greater than ourselves, whether friends, family or the divine. But in the not-too-distant future, ...
Nextgov

CMS built a waitlist for its AI chatbot — and that drove momentum — official says

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services had employees join a waitlist to test out its generative artificial intelligence chatbot when it first rolled out the tool — an approach that helped ...
NBC Washington

28% of U.S. teens say they use AI chatbots daily, according to a new poll

Artificial intelligence chatbots have entered many teenagers’ daily routines. 64% U.S. teens say they use AI chatbots such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini, with about 28% saying they use chatbots daily, ...
AdExchanger

The Chatbot Ad Platform

OpenAI launched ads this week, turning ChatGPT into an ad platform – just days after rival Anthropic mocked the move in a ...
Oregonian

Oregon lawmakers propose to regulate AI chatbots to protect kids’ mental health

As artificial intelligence chatbots become more common, Oregon lawmakers are weighing new requirements for companies such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT to protect children’s mental health. They want chatbot ...