Let’s preface this: making fun of AI chatbots is easy and enjoyable. However, it can also be informative. So, out of curiosity, I decided to ask ChatGPT which color Sonos Ace headphones it would recommend.
Specifically, I engaged with ChatGPT 4o, which is supposed to provide “GPT-4-level intelligence” with enhanced capabilities across text, voice, and vision. However, one model is generally as good (or bad) as the next in my opinion, and I wouldn’t rely on any of them as a definitive source of information. Consider this more of an entertainment exercise than anything else.
My first question was: “What color Sonos Ace should I get?”
Before I reveal the response, I want to emphasize that I believe I asked the question in a natural way. Presumably, ChatGPT should have been able to recognize that the Sonos Ace is a product (albeit a relatively new one, which could potentially be problematic for the response) and that it comes in various colors. And it did acknowledge both of those things.
However, there were two main problems.
First, ChatGPT failed to understand that the Sonos Ace are headphones. (Again, their newness might be a factor.) But then it proceeded to suggest a color that doesn’t exist as an option for the Sonos Ace.
This led to a rather amusing response. “The choice of color for a Sonos Ace depends on your personal preference and the style of your space.” That space, of course, being my head. While I’m open to the argument that certain colors might look better on me than others, I would argue that the style of my surroundings should be irrelevant when it comes to headphones. They’re meant to be worn, not seen. Because they’re headphones, not speakers.
And it gets funnier. Here’s the response for Sonos Ace headphones in black: “Sleek and modern, black blends well with most interiors, especially if you have other black or dark-colored electronics and furniture.” Indeed, it does. Black goes with everything. But, again, none of that is really a consideration for me when it comes to my headphones.
But what about white headphones? “Clean and minimalist,” ChatGPT continued, “white is great for a lighter, airy look and matches well with white or light-colored furniture and decor.” I had never considered white headphones giving a room an airy look, but okay, I’ll go with it.
Then ChatGPT offered a third option. “Neutral and versatile, gray can be a good middle ground if you want something that isn’t too stark but still stylish and modern.” Makes sense. But there’s just one problem: Sonos doesn’t make gray Ace headphones. They don’t exist.
To be fair, the white version is actually “soft white” and looks more gray than white. But still, there are no purely gray Sonos Ace headphones.
We’re not done yet. ChatGPT went on to muse about “special editions or custom colors.” Fair enough. “Occasionally, Sonos releases special editions or custom colors. These can add a unique touch to your setup if you’re looking for something different.” That’s true. They can add a unique touch to your setup, insofar as my head is a setup.
But then there’s the issue that Sonos doesn’t (at least to the best of my knowledge) do that either. The Sonos Roam, new Roam 2, and the Pro-Ject turntables the company sells are the only products that deviate from the black and white binary.
Again, this was all done out of pure curiosity. I’m not trying to make ChatGPT look bad or anything. But the fact that it didn’t recognize on its own that the Sonos Ace are headphones gave the impression that it doesn’t really know what they are and was just giving me responses it thought would be somewhere in the ballpark, which really just made them generically bad. Like a hastily written paper in sixth grade.
I ran my query once more, just to see what would happen. This time, I added an extra word for context: “What color Sonos Ace headphones should I get?”
The responses were better in that they didn’t assume the Sonos Ace refers to a speaker that lives in a room. ChatGPT also returned its answers in pairs of pros and cons.
For the black example:
Pros: Classic, versatile, and less likely to show dirt or wear. Matches well with most outfits and styles.
Cons: May feel too plain if you prefer a more vibrant look.
Again, generic, but not wrong.
The answer for the white Sonos Ace was essentially the same, with the added con of being more prone to showing stains. So, try not to stain your headphones.
But, once again, it also dreamed up a gray edition of the Sonos Ace, which simply does not exist. Same for special edition or custom colors.
The point of all this? I just wanted to see how this newfangled AI model would answer a question I had already answered myself. Phil 1. ChatGPT 0.
