Please take my apologies if you’re looking to purchase a machine at this time. It’s a dizzying time to start researching your options and choosing a new computer now that the price war is on full swing.

You’re probably concerned about the potential for cost increases because the software industry is in flux. CNET is monitoring how political and economic improvements are affecting the costs of devices like notebooks, smartphones, TVs, video games, and gaming consoles. &nbsp,

While shopping assistant chatbots have grown in popularity, ChatGPT, the most well-known one, is set to launch a shopping experience quickly, so you might betempted to use an AI chatbot to narrow down your options to a suitable computer in your desired price range. &nbsp,

I compared its recommendations to CNET’s link on the best desktop computers, the best Macs, and the best devices, which were assembled by a team of experts based on hands-on testing, and I tested it out.

And as you’ll see, the Artificial advice all had troubling flaws, as you’ll see from my experience.

The AI’s suggested takes “are all ancient and, for the most part, underpowered for what we asked for,” according to CNET managing director and computer analyst Josh Goldman. With two outliers,” with exceptions.”

A computer for value and mobility

You need a computer that is both financially sound and balances all the right boxes. The Apple MacBook Air ( M1, 2020 ), which Microsoft Copilot ( M1 ) chose, was what? You can resell the M1 Air at Best Buy&nbsp or purchase the M2 type ( see it at Best Buy ), but the M1 Air is only accessible in one design at Walmart.

The M1 Air is a good all-around option for college, home business, pleasure, and basic content creation, according to Goldman. &nbsp,

When I attempted to identify which stores accept buy now, pay later purchasing choices, quite as Klarna and Affirm, the AI advice actually started to wane when I tried to use the free versions of&nbsp, Copilotși Perplexity. These avoid high-interest credit cards while allowing you to pay for buying in installments rather than paying the full price at the checkout.

The advice of the Apple MacBook Air as a budget-friendly opportunity was supported by CNET’s suggestion, and the AI-enabled research tool Perplexity confirmed that Walmart offers the ability to pay for items using Affirm.

However, be warned: Perplexity was sad at identifying afterpay options that were available directly from suppliers, and boldly confused business credit cards and high-interested repayment plans as “pay-as-you-go” options. Be sure to double-check the cited results. &nbsp,

( As a side note, I’ve been testing AI tools for a year now, and I’ve noticed some are getting worse, with more frequent hallucinations and inaccurate information being returned. ) There is a “disconnect” between its” capabilities” and what it can actually accomplish, in particular, perplexity admitted in the conversation.

A laptop for browsing and bed rotting

If done correctly, screen time can also serve as self-care. You deserve a light, internet-friendly laptop with a screen big enough for watching Columbo episodes on Prime Video ( just me)? under the covers in your personal cocoon. &nbsp,

I asked Microsoft’s AI-enabled in-browser search engine, Copilot, to find me laptops that I’d use while mostly horizontal. No strong cliches required. This needs to be constructed for comfort, not speed, and with a price that will match.

What it returned with was the HP Chromebook 11 ( see it at Amazon ), which had an 11-inch HD IPS display, an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and Windows 11 ( see it at Amazon ), which it called the” HP Lightweight 11″ (undoubtedly confused by its description online ).

Copilot provided fake links to websites to avoid providing real links to products to review them, in addition to another warning about using AI, which provided a fantastic list of very affordable options for lounging and bingeing. &nbsp,

Another search had to be conducted for active links to the products after this deceptive hallucination was discovered. &nbsp,

However, Goldman, the laptop expert for CNET, disagreed with the choice. The best option for binge-watching is an iPad or an Apple tablet, he says, honestly. ” An 11-inch laptop would not be enjoyable because the screen and audio quality at that price would be disappointing. The performance would also be pretty subpar.

A laptop with portability and power for gaming

Although I won’t recommend touching grass, Baldur’s Gate could be played while gazing out a window or, better yet, at Ren Faire on the shared Wi-Fi with three of your favorite TVs. &nbsp,

Copilot contacted me to offer recommendations for laptops that have long battery life, are feature-packed, and have affordable graphics chips that can smoothly run games like Baldur’s Gate 3. The second recommendation, which Goldman supported, was the Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3&nbsp ( see it at Amazon ).

However, consider what Copilot had to say.

Although Copilot’s list of laptops technically supported the game, only the Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 managed to fulfill the requirements for a grand title like Baldur’s Gate 3. &nbsp,

The AI tool finally admitted that the Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 was the only device that met the search criteria after much prodding. Make sure to check the information AI is providing to you and compare it to CNET’s recommendations for gaming laptops before purchasing, as always.

A laptop for creating and connecting content

You want to share a gift, an expertise, or another light with the world, and worrying about paying too much for a laptop shouldn’t detract from our efforts. I requested Copilot to show me laptops and computers that wouldn’t cost more than$ 500 and are designed for content creation, photo and video editing, and simple, creative collaboration.

Copilot provided a list of options that seemed reasonable, but when asked to name a content creation laptop champion, its criteria and methodology were lacking. &nbsp,

The tool first identified a laptop option that was significantly over the$ 500 budget and not on the initial list provided. Copilot endorsed the HP 15-inch FHD Chromebook as the best budget option when it was pushed, but the Acer Aspire 3 Premium ( see it at Amazon ) outperformed the HP on all fronts, including price. &nbsp,

Important advice on how to use AI to guide your tech decision

Working with conversational AI-integrated search tools is a give and take, and you should never accept the first response as fact. Challenge the AI, be specific about what you want, compare the outcomes, and use real-world, expert advice, like CNET reviews, to get the best result.