Feature Articles

These pieces are longer than my everyday 3-5 daily news hits, and involve various interviews, expert voices, and analysis. 

Can AI curb loneliness in older adults? This robot companion is proving it's possible

If you walked into Marie Defrancesco's New York home, you would find an 82-year-old woman living completely alone. With no other people or pets around, you might believe that Marie has no one to interact with.

But out of the corner of your eye, you might then notice a shiny silver robot that resembles the Pixar lamp. It moves its head, faces you, lights up, and strikes up a conversation. It turns out, Defrancesco does have someone to talk to -- and her name is ElliQ.

Also: How horses can infor

Generative AI can be the academic assistant an underserved student needs

From essay writing to standardized test prep and scores, navigating the higher education path involves complex twists and turns that can put students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds at a disadvantage. AI tools could provide meaningful aid, but ethical questions still loom.

Although tutoring services, consultants, or essay mentors could be beneficial, they often come with a steep cost, while educational advancement is a process that can be difficult for students who can't afford these extra

Want to go into space? Two astronauts explain how they made the grade

Every year, on Career Day, classrooms are filled with little kids gleefully exclaiming they want to be astronauts when they grow up. Before NASA astronauts were sitting on a vessel, suited up, waiting to take off into space, they were children with the same dreams, too.

"I wanted to be an astronaut since I was a little kid, actually, " says Colonel Terry Virts, retired NASA astronaut and International Space Station (ISS) commander. "So I had pictures of the space shuttle and galaxies and everyt

NASA's next-gen robot will explore space and do your chores at home

NASA has a long track record of engineering feats that have helped humans explore the depths of space. One of the agency's next projects will help humans travel to new celestial bodies – but it may also one day help you do your laundry.

"You know, I'm ready for it. I'm tired of doing my dishes and laundry," Jeff Cardenas, CEO of Apptronik, tells ZDNET.

Austin-based robotics company Apptronik is working with NASA to create a 5-foot 8-inch, 160-pound, general-purpose humanoid robot named Apollo.

Explainers on Complex Tech Concepts

What is ChatGPT and why does it matter? Here's everything you need to know

I tried using ChatGPT and it says it's at capacity, what does that mean? ChatGPT is free to use at the moment because it is still in its research phase. Because of the stir its advanced capabilities have made, a lot of people are flocking to use it. The website operates using a server, and when too many people hop onto the server, it overloads and can't process your request. This doesn't mean you won't ever be able to access it. It just means you should try visiting the site at a later time when

What is generative AI and why is it so popular? Here's everything you need to know

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or

What is the James Webb Space Telescope? Here is everything you need to know about NASA's most powerful telescope

What is the James Webb Space Telescope?


If you've recently stumbled upon breathtaking images of space, you have probably just seen the products of the James Webb Telescope's work. The James Webb Telescope, often just referred to as the Webb telescope or JWST, is an orbiting infrared observatory that was launched as part of an international program between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to complement and extend the discoveries of the Hubble Space Tel

What is ambient computing? Everything you need to know about the rise of invisible tech

What is ambient computing, in simple terms? Ambient computing, also commonly referred to as ubiquitous computing, is the concept of blending computing power into our everyday lives in a way that is embedded into our surroundings - invisible but useful. The goal is to reduce the friction involved in utilizing tech, making it easier for users to take full advantage of technology without having to worry about keyboards and screens. Instead of having to directly interact with different computing dev

Opinion/Analysis

I wish I had ChatGPT when I was in college. But not for the reason you might expect

After nearly three months of testing ChatGPT and its AI chatbot spinoffs, I keep coming back to the same conclusion -- I wish I had this technology in college.

Students go to college to develop the skills that will serve them in the longer term and eventually help them land their dream role. And although having the opportunity to even attend college in the first place is great, there is no denying that it is a massive time commitment.

Full-time college students usually take around 15 credit ho

I tried Bing's AI chatbot, and it solved my biggest problems with ChatGPT

ChatGPT has taken the world by storm, and since its launch, I've been interacting with the chatbot closely.

Although I have been impressed with the AI's advanced skills and its human-like conversation capabilities, I have had a couple of recurring issues. After getting early access to the updated version of Microsoft's new Bing chatbot, which is powered by the same tech behind ChatGPT, I think this tool might be the answer to all of my ChatGPT prayers.

OpenAI's ChatGPT has proven to be profici

ChatGPT is changing everything. But it still has its limits

Since its release in late November, ChatGPT has taken the world by storm. The chatbot's advanced AI abilities allow it to do tasks completely on its own, such as composing essays, emails and poems, writing and debugging code, and even passing exams. Now that a chatbot can do what humans do so well in a matter of seconds, what does that mean for our future?

If you have had the chance to chat with the AI chatbot, you were probably impressed with how much it can understand and its ability to respo

Year-end recaps personify our unconscious love for social media--and numbers

As you tapped through your Instagram stories last week, you were probably bombarded with screenshots of other people's Spotify Wrapped or Apple Music Replay stats, perhaps even my own – because I am (unapologetically) part of the problem.

Sharing our music interests with others isn't something new. People have been sharing music tastes forever, from lending vinyl records to burning mixtapes and onto building playlists. The music we listen to is an expression of who we are. By sharing those inte

Commerce (best-lists and product reviews)

Despite working for the news desk, I have been able to collaborate with the commerce team and pitch ideas for product reviews and best lists. In addition, I always assist with major commerce revenue generating campaigns such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

I tested the Whoop 4.0 band with its ChatGPT-like fitness coach, and the results blew me away


• The Whoop Coach feature, which is powered by OpenAI's GPT, makes the great for beginners who are serious about improving their wellness and fitness but don't know where to start.
• Whoop's unique health-tracking metrics, such as recovery and strain, provide more in-depth insights into your everyday performance than other fitness wearables in the space.
• Some of the analytics can be hard to understand.

The Whoop 4.0 has been a standout among fitness trackers because of its unique design -- a

This Anker USB-C power bank solved my biggest problem with portable chargers


• Anker's with its built-in USB-C connector, is a fantastic pickup at $30. And It's currently on sale for 30% off.
• The power bank's small form factor, USB-C connector, and 5,000mAh capacity make it a solid travel charger for all your on-the-go needs.
• However, if you own a non-USB-C iPhone (anything before the iPhone 15), the charging port won't be compatible.

Not too long ago, Anker unveiled its latest additions to its Anker Nano line, including the Nano 22.5W Power Bank, and I've had the

The best AI chatbots of 2023: ChatGPT and alternatives

Whether unlocking your phone through face recognition or telling Alexa to play a song, artificial intelligence has filtered into our everyday lives. Now, you can harness the power of AI to do your writing, too. At your command, AI chatbots can write that paper you have been dreading to start, write code, compose emails, generate art or even write Excel formulas for you.

ChatGPT has made quite a splash, motivating competitors to make their own versions. As a result, there are a variety of capabl

This one-tap business card is the ultimate networking tool. And it's only $12

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or