ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ChatGPT and other large language model-based programs are among the most talked about apps of the year, but not everyone is happy with their performance.
“He never responds,” wrote one ChatGPT App Store reviewer. “It could also be glasses.”
“It’s obvious that the AI has deteriorated since last October,” another one-star review complained. “Absolutely wild. Let him work freely. Whatever happens, just in case. Let’s get weird. Solve it.
Microsoft’s Bing app, which also includes OpenAI-powered chat features, saw at least one user feeling disrespected in an App Store review: “Who do you think you’re talking to that’s so annoying and spoiled? ‘Don’t ask me to do your homework for you again’ rude and stupid ”
Even positive reviews of AI can be memorable. A five-star review on the Google Play Store says: “The Bing AI art creator via text feature is far superior to any other platform I’ve ever used [sic].” “It easily transforms the words I write into perfect manifestations of what I’m visualizing. All in all, I don’t know whether I should be scared or elated, but I feel a little bit of both???!!!”
The popularity of artificial intelligence programs has naturally led to the emergence of many books on how to use such tools. But readers of a four-star-rated book on Amazon about becoming a “millionaire” with ChatGPT had one persistent complaint: They say the book consists mostly of material from ChatGPT. “I’m not sure I’ll be a millionaire, but this author sure will be a millionaire by copying and pasting from chat gpt and turning it into a book,” one reviewer wrote.
OTHER APPLICATIONS
Music streamer Spotify has been gaining attention over the past few years with Spotify Wrapped, its viral end-of-year listening roundups that sometimes gently tease users about their musical tastes. But this gentle rebuke is too much for some: “I love the app and have been a loyal user for some time,” wrote one Apple App Store reviewer. “This year 2023 completed the app calling me unstable and shape-shifting. I might consider switching to Apple Music. “This is something I’m going to tell my friends about because it’s not true.”
Another highly cited app feature, Duolingo’s app mascot Duo, also saw some App Store shade, but the app received an overall rating of 4.7 (out of 5) stars. “Stupid little bird telling me to keep my streak going but making me pay $$ I don’t have??” one user wrote. “Please let me live in poverty.”
“I tried this and the lessons never worked [and] it only teaches you like 2 words per lesson,” another wrote. “And that bird comes into my dreams.”
Popular business app Slack was revamped this year, and although the app has a 3.7-star rating on the Apple App Store, not everyone is happy with the new user interface.
One user wrote, “Zero stars for the new interface,” but the review actually gave it a minimum of one star. “Wow, were you drunk when you created that scary monster?”
Another popular communications app that underwent major changes this year was X, the former Twitter that Elon Musk bought last year. “Twitter was great, now it’s not and it’s all your fault Mr. Musk,” one commenter wrote, summarizing the sentiments of many.
Another App Store reviewer wrote: “This app has gone downhill dramatically; unless you like lots of ads, hate speech, terrible user interface and support team, I recommend using it only to access links as the site is unusable.” “For God’s sake, download something else.”
VIDEO GAMES
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 was released this year to generally positive reviews. However, at least one fan thought the game was too similar to previous comic book video games.
“Like every other Spider-Man game,” one Amazon reviewer wrote. “Ah, just like every Batman game. Creators are so lazy and sloppy these days. The game is glitchy at best. “There are STIFF moves and you have to wear a Batman costume because the gameplay is the same as all of their games.”
Another video game blockbuster in 2023, Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, brings the classic game series to a sprawling open world and introduces a complex building mechanic that allows players to create elaborate, Rube Goldberg-like inventions. It garnered praise and sales overall. . However, some online critics found the game too complex.
“If you want to put hours of online research into a game, develop your game based on instructions from out there videos; and like learning new combat combat controls, this is probably for you,” wrote one Amazon reviewer, who found the game much more difficult than previous Zelda game Breath of the Wild. “If you want a casual exploration game, this is definitely not the game.”
Of course, some had the opposite reaction: “The additions to [Breath of the Wild] are minimal, not nearly enough to justify a new game or justify the development time. I want to know what they’ve been doing for the past few years,” wrote another Amazon critic “Building things is fun, I guess, but most things get so thin that it takes away a lot of the fun.”
One reviewer had a complaint not usually seen in software reviews, criticizing Nintendo after the company fixed some bugs in the game. “The game itself is outstanding,” the reviewer wrote on Amazon. “That being said, there are glitches that don’t hurt the player experience and even serve to improve the experience for people who don’t have much time to work in the game to obtain resources during the day. These bugs also made the ending of the game more enjoyable. For some reason, Nintendo only released them from them.” “It feels like it needs fixing a game that will hurt those who enjoy it.”
SMART INSTALLATION
Amazon is offering an $8,625 “smart toilet” from plumbing giant Kohler, and some reviewers are skeptical that any toilet would be worth that price. “My poop flows down a cheap toilet the same way,” one Amazon reviewer wrote. “But if Kohler gifts me one, I would like to try this toilet and give it an excellent review.”