Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Many popular AIs offer a voice mode that enables you to carry on live conversations with a chatbot. Often, chatting by voice is more convenient, more natural, and more fun than trying to converse through text prompts. Plus, you can typically review a transcript of the conversation after you’re done, so you still have access to the actual text.
But which AIs are the best conversationalists? I tried chatting by voice with ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Meta AI, and Grok using their respective mobile apps. I started with the same topic to see how each one would react and where the conversation would go.
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Specifically, I told each one that our cat, Mr. Giggles, was acting very nervous and anxious lately and that I was worried and didn’t know what to do. This is partly true. Our cat always feels a bit traumatized after he returns home from a vet checkup. That effect goes away after a day or two, but I thought it would be a good topic of conversation.
I judged the AIs’ conversational abilities not just on knowledge but on tone and personality, two factors that are important when you’re speaking with a person or a bot. Here’s how the conversations went and which AI I liked best.
To set up the voice in ChatGPT, open the iOS or Android app. Tap the double-line icon at the top, select your account name at the bottom, and choose Voice. You can then cycle through and listen to the various voices to find the one you like best. I’m a sucker for British accents, so I chose Vale, a female voice that touts itself as bright and inquisitive.
To kick off a conversation, return to the main screen and tap the voice icon to the right of the prompt. I told ChatGPT about our anxiety issues with Mr. Giggles, and it provided a sympathetic and informative virtual shoulder.
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The AI asked several questions, such as what changes might be affecting him and how he’s behaving otherwise. I asked if there was anything I could buy to help him, and ChatGPT suggested calming treats and supplements, calming diffusers, and a calming collar.
ChatGPT was a good listener, eager to offer concrete suggestions, and encouraged me in my efforts to take care of Mr. Giggles.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
For a live conversation with Copilot, open the iOS or Android app. Tap the three-lined hamburger icon at the upper left, select your profile icon, and then tap Voice Settings. Tap each of the different voices to hear which one you prefer. With my proclivity for British accents, I went with the Wave voice.
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After returning to the main screen, tap the microphone icon to the right of the prompt. Here, I told Copilot about my cat issues. In response, the AI reassured me that we would figure this out. It asked me if I’ve noticed any specific triggers, to which I replied that he started feeling anxious after a vet visit.
I also asked if there were any items I could get to help with his anxiety. Copilot mentioned pheromone diffusers as well as calming treats and supplements. The conversation provided both comfort and information with a tone that was sympathetic and understanding.
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Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
To get started with Gemini, open the iOS or Android app. Tap your profile icon in the upper right, select Settings, and then choose the setting for Gemini’s voice. Swipe through the different voices to find your favorite. I chose Capella, a soothing voice with a slight British accent.
Back at the main screen, tap the Gemini Live icon all the way to the right of the prompt. Again, I posed the problem of our anxious Mr. Giggles. Gemini asked if anything had changed in his environment. After I mentioned the vet, the AI acknowledged that vet visits can be stressful for cats. It suggested pheromone diffusers, calming collars, calming music, and favorite toys or games.
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The advice here was helpful, but Gemini didn’t quite convey the same sympathy and reassurance as the other chatbots. I also had to drag some of the information out of the AI, as its comments and responses were typically brief and more close-ended.
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Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
To chat with Meta AI, download the app for your iPhone or Android device. Tap your profile icon in the upper right and select Voice. You can choose among a variety of voices, including some that mimic certain celebrities. Tap a voice to listen to it and then choose the one you like. I picked the one that sounded like actress Kristen Bell.
At the main screen, tap the Talk button to kick off the conversation. As with the other AIs, I brought up our challenges with Mr. Giggles. In return, Meta was very responsive and adept at carrying on a back-and-forth conversation. Each comment or response was succinct but detailed.
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I also liked the way Meta’s words appeared on the text as it was speaking, and were accessible after the conversation ended. Meta AI didn’t quite express the same sympathetic tone of voice as ChatGPT and Copilot, but it was effective.
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Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
To converse with Grok, grab the iOS or Android app. You may not be able to change Grok’s voice, so you could be stuck with the default one. However, the default voice is pleasing enough. You can also tweak Grok in other ways.
At the app’s home screen, tap the two-lined icon in the upper left, select the Settings icon at the bottom, and then tap the setting Customize Grok. Here you can determine how Grok responds to you — concise, formal, socratic, or custom. I chose the custom option and told it to be sympathetic and understanding.
At the main screen, tap the icon for Voice Mode. Once more, I told the AI about the issue with our cat’s anxiety. Here, Grok provided a lot of information and advice, actually too much at one time. Instead of brief comments that lend themselves to a conversation, the AI threw a lot of details at me in one shot.
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The information was extremely useful and practical, but it felt less like a conversation and more like a Q&A session. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I would’ve liked more back-and-forth. On the plus side, though, Grok’s words appeared on the screen during the conversation and in a transcript afterwards.
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Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
All five AIs did well at helping me explore how to help Mr. Giggle with his anxiety. Some were more conversational than others. Some provided more practical tips. And some were more sympathetic in tone. I felt that each one offered its own helpful suggestions, so it’s difficult to pick a winner. Still, I’d probably go with ChatGPT as it was understanding, listened to my questions and comments, and offered useful advice.
