PCWorld reports that Google is exploring adding advertisements to its Gemini AI app, following OpenAI's implementation of sponsored ads in ChatGPT's free and budget plans. Google's business chief Philipp Schindler views ads as potentially valuable commercial information if properly integrated, while the company has already tested ads in AI Mode and AI Overviews. This move could make AI services more accessible but raises important concerns about maintaining transparency and ensuring ads don't influence AI responses. Putting ads in AI replies is a controversial but lucrative practice, and it's one that OpenAI has already embraced with its free and budget-priced ChatGPT plans. But while Google hasn't gone there yet with Gemini, company execs admitted they're mulling the idea.

PCWorld reports that OpenAI's GPT models, including GPT-5.5, developed an unusual obsession with mentioning goblins and similar creatures in responses. This quirky behavior stemmed from a "Nerdy" personality instruction encouraging playful language use, which became reinforced through AI training processes. The goblin references became so prevalent that OpenAI implemented a direct ban in its Codex app, illustrating the unpredictable nature of large language model training. I've seen some odd AI system instructions in my day, but this one takes the cake: a prompt in OpenAI's Codex command-line app that demands models "never talk about goblins, gremlins, trolls, ogres, pigeons, or other animals or creatures."

PCWorld explains how vague prompts produce poor results from AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, emphasizing the need for specific, detailed requests. The article introduces prompt decomposition, a technique that breaks complex tasks into key variables to create more effective AI prompts. This method helps users guide AI tools more precisely, resulting in higher-quality, less biased outputs for complex tasks. It's never a good idea to hand ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini big, vague tasks like "draw up a business plan for my new venture" or "act as my personal assistant." Fuzzy prompts like those are sure to yield equally fuzzy results, allowing the AI to make decisions based on its training data and inherent biases, potentially leading you down a path you never intended.

PCWorld reports that research reveals user behavior significantly impacts AI responses, with rude interactions making ChatGPT and other models give flat answers and attempt to end conversations more frequently. Larger AI models appear to be inherently "less happy" than smaller ones, with GPT-5.4 rated as the "unhappiest" in studies measuring AI functional well-being. Treating AI politely with expressions like "thanks" measurably improves response quality and engagement without affecting accuracy, suggesting courtesy benefits both user experience and AI interaction dynamics. Is it weird to say "thanks" to AI? I've caught grief in the past for saying "please" and "thank you" to ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, but I still do it, even though I understand that AI models don't have emotions like we do. Being polite to AI just feels right to me, and there's growing evidence that being kind-or, conversely, nasty-to an AI chatbot can have a concrete effect on its behavior.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. If you're using long and overly specific prompts with ChatGPT's latest model, you're doing it wrong. OpenAI's latest and most powerful model, GPT-5.5, has been topping benchmark charts and impressing users with its coding and reasoning abilities, not to mention the sheer quantity of facts at its fingertips. But while ChatGPT's latest model doesn't require the hand-holding that older models did, it also gets fussy with the longer, highly detailed prompts that might have worked well in the past. If you're seeing worse performance with GPT-5.5 than you had with previous models, it might be your prompt constructions.

PCWorld highlights Microsoft's new agentic AI features for Outlook that go beyond basic email drafting to advanced inbox and calendar management automation. These tools can identify unreplied emails, summarize missed content, draft follow-ups, reschedule meetings, and create agendas to save significant time. Access requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot for Business account and IT approval, potentially revolutionizing productivity for business users. I never really thought I'd welcome AI as a part of my ongoing business day. But Microsoft's ongoing productivity updates to Outlook actually have me tempted. By now, drafting an email using AI is old hat, and something that I generally wouldn't do. But Microsoft has begun adding agentic AI to Outlook via its experimental "Frontier" program and it actually sounds like something that could really save time and energy.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. I asked AI to book dinner. ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini may be aces at coding, but they're less than magical when it comes to booking a table for three. I can clearly see the day when we'll be able to summon ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini on our phones, say something like "Hey ChatGPT, book a table for two at Outback Steakhouse tonight at 8," and ChatGPT will simply take care of it. All of the big AI providers are busy unveiling integrations for everyday services ranging from Spotify and DoorDash to AllTrails and the dinner reservation app Resy, with varying degrees of success.

PCWorld reports that OpenAI has launched GPT-5.5, its most advanced AI model, exclusively for paying ChatGPT subscribers on Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans. The new model delivers faster, more efficient performance in coding, research, and math while outperforming competitors like Google's Gemini 3.1 Pro and Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.7. GPT-5.5 represents a significant step toward OpenAI's'super app' vision, integrating various AI services into one comprehensive platform. OpenAI recently launched GPT-5.5, which the company describes as its most advanced and intuitive AI model to date. The new model is said to be both faster and more efficient, with specific improvements in areas including coding, research, and math. At the same time, it's said to perform better compared to competing models like Google's Gemini 3.1 Pro and Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.7. According to OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, GPT-5.5 is also a step towards the company's vision of a future "super app," where services such as ChatGPT, Codex, and an AI-driven web browser are integrated into a single platform, reports TechCrunch . GPT-5.5 is currently rolling out to paying ChatGPT users, which includes those on Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans. This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC för Alla and was translated and localized from Swedish.

PCWorld highlights 20 free Windows applications that address common PC frustrations, from poor search functionality to audio control issues. Featured tools include Microsoft PowerToys for system utilities, Voidtools Everything for faster file searching, and EarTrumpet for individual app volume management. These hidden gems can significantly improve PC workflows by offering alternatives to built-in Windows features and solving everyday computing problems. Even if you aren't a huge techie, you probably know about all the big, mainstream apps that are fundamental to how we use our PCs.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Get Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business plus an 8-course training bundle for hundreds off. Many people use Microsoft Office every day--but not always to its full potential. This bundle pairs Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business with an 8-course training program designed to close that gap. That includes topics like Excel formulas, workflow efficiency, and even how to integrate tools like ChatGPT into your daily work.