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    You can access ChatGPT Search without an account now – here’s how

    Getty Images/da-kuk The best way to get the most out of an AI chatbot is verifying its sources and letting it direct you to more robust and useful content regarding the topic. Therefore, AI search engines are a powerful tool for everyday workflows, and, now, accessing ChatGPT Search just got a whole lot easier.  Also: How […] More

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    ARK Invest’s Big Ideas 2025: AI agents will significantly improve employee productivity

    Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images ARK Invest’s Big Ideas 2025 highlights the convergences between and among the five technologically enabled innovation platforms evolving today: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Energy Storage, Public Blockchains, and Multiomic Sequencing. In 2025, ARK features 11 Big Ideas illustrating the massive transformations occurring today.  Also: AI agents will match ‘good mid-level’ engineers this year, says Mark […] More

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    How to make ChatGPT provide better sources and citations

    Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images One of the biggest complaints about ChatGPT is that it provides information that is difficult to check for accuracy. Those complaints exist because ChatGPT doesn’t always provide the sources, footnotes, or links from which it derived the information in its answers. Here’s how ChatGPT describes the approach: “GPT-4o in free […] More

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    5 great Chrome browser alternatives that put your privacy first

    ZDNETIn this age of constant digital malice, it’s beyond the point where everyone should be thinking “security first.” All it takes is one momentary lapse of reason, and a bad actor has your information.You don’t want that.Nor do you want third parties to collect your data.With that in mind, Chrome should be considered a problem because it has a constant target on its back and is known to be one of the biggest offenders of data collection, profiling, and fingerprinting.Also: How I made Perplexity AI the default search engine in my browser (and why you should too)What do you do?Fortunately, there are plenty of Chrome-based alternatives that take security up a notch or two.Let me offer you a few suggestions.1. Brave BrowserBrave is one of the most secure Chrome-based browsers on the market. It was created by the creator of JavaScript and is fairly locked down by default. Not only does Brave not store user information, but it also includes built-in blockers for ads, trackers, scripts, fingerprinting, and third-party storage. On top of all the blockers, Brave also includes built-in access to the Tor network and a user-friendly VPN. Oh, did I mention it includes a dedicated, private search engine (Brave Engine), global HTTPS encryption, and a built-in cryptocurrency wallet (which can be disabled)? For those who fear Brave would be too different from Chrome, fear not. Anyone who has used any sort of web browser will feel right at home with Brave. Brave is free and can be installed on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. Also: The best secure browsers for privacyBest for: Brave is best for those who want all of their browser security baked in (without having to configure a thing) and depend on a VPN for added security. More

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    Firefox expands access to popular AI chatbots right from the sidebar

    Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETFirefox users can now tap into their favorite AI directly from the browser. Currently rolling out to all Firefox users with version 135 is a sidebar feature that grants access to several different AI chatbots. The list includes Anthropic’s Claude, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google Gemini, HuggingChat by Hugging Face, and Le Chat Mistral.The AI access has been available in Firefox since last September with version 130 but only on an experimental basis. Now it’s an official feature built into the browser for anyone to use.Also: The best AI chatbots of 2025: ChatGPT, Copilot, and notable alternativesTo try this out, make sure you’re running the latest version of Firefox. To do that, click the three-lined hamburger icon at the top right, click Help, and then select About Firefox. The browser will automatically download and install the new version and then prompt you to restart it.After launching Firefox again, click the Sidebar icon on the top toolbar. At the sidebar on the left, click the drop-down arrow to see a menu of choices, such as Bookmarks, History, Synced Tabs, and AI Chatbot. Select the one for AI Chatbot. You can also access the AI list more quickly without even opening the sidebar by pressing Ctrl+Alt+X. More

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    Adobe Acrobat’s AI Assistant can now decipher complex contracts for you

    Adobe We all have to deal with contracts and agreements as consumers or business professionals. However, as most contracts are written in legalese, understanding them can be challenging. To ease the pain, Adobe has added a new skill to its Acrobat AI that tries to interpret complex contracts for the average person. Automatically detecting when […] More

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    Proton Pass vs. 1Password: Which password manager is right for you?

    Jada Jones/ZDNETIt’s easy to become overwhelmed by a sea of options when looking for a new password manager. There are various tools to choose from that offer different features, device compatibility, and price points. You want to compare which ones do the basics well and have the extras you need – all in a package that ensures your data is safe and secure. Also: The best password managers: Expert testedIn our head-to-head comparison of Proton Pass and 1Password, Proton Pass gets high marks for its focus on privacy and free plan. On the other hand, 1Password provides a smoother and more consistent user experience with all the features you’d expect from a premium password manager. When deciding between the two, we recommend weighing which features and services you’ll use most and whether you need more than just password management. Here’s how these top password managers stack up so you can determine which one best fits your needs.  Specifications Proton Pass1PasswordKey featuresHide-my-email aliases, dark web monitoring, vault, and record sharingTravel Mode, external credential sharing and guest access, record typesFree version✓14-day trialCompatibilityWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Brave, web appWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Brave, web appSecurity featuresAES-256 encryption, open source, 2FAAES-256 encryption, Secret Key, 2FABiometric unlockFace ID and Touch ID (iOS, macOS), Windows HelloFace ID and Touch ID (iOS, macOS); fingerprint, face, and iris  unlock (Android); Windows Hello; Linux system authenticationUnlimited syncing✓✓Passkey support✓✓Multi-factor authentication✓✓Price$36/year More

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    This prism-shaped power bank I tested looks odd, but it makes so much sense

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The powerful, high-capacity power bank is encased in an IP66-rated shell for dust and waterproofing. Clear, bright display keeps you in the loop about what the power bank is doing. This is no pocket-sized power bank and is best suited for a laptop bag or carry-on luggage. –> I’ve tested and […] More