Consumer & Gadgets

New study reveals chatbot empathy can worsen customer reactions

When a service encounter goes south, customers expect empathy. Hearing an employee say, "I share your frustration," can calm tensions and rebuild trust. But new research from the University of South Florida suggests that ...

Consumer & Gadgets

AI tools to help vision-impaired are good, but could be better

Artificial intelligence is touching nearly every aspect of life—including assistive technology for blind and low-vision (BLV) individuals. And just like in other arenas, the AI used to assist BLV people is good—but far from ...

Consumer & Gadgets

How do ionic hair dryers work? Can they do what they promise?

If you've been in the market for a new hair dryer, you've likely seen advertising for ionic ones. Some claim to produce negative ions in the millions—with or without the help of added minerals like tourmaline.

Consumer & Gadgets

Dear AI, I'm autistic; should I go to this party?

When people ask ChatGPT and other AI models for advice, they often share deeply personal details in hopes of getting better answers: their age, their gender, their mental health history, even medical diagnoses like autism. ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Reactions to data breaches fade faster than expected

Data breaches, such as the recent incidents at Odido and Basic-Fit, trigger feelings of anxiety and loss of trust among both victims and those who may have been affected. New international research shows that although data ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Teens are becoming concerned about their attachment to AI chatbots

It's estimated that more than half of all U.S. teens are regularly using companion chatbots powered by large language models and generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The programs, such as Character.AI, Replika ...

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