Let’s stipulate something: Mocking AI chatbots is easy and rather commonplace. But it can also be a bit of fun. And, to be honest, I was a bit curious about which color Sonos Ace headphones ChatGPT might recommend.

So I put it to the test. I specifically asked ChatGPT 4o. This is the version that “provides GPT-4-level intelligence but is much faster and enhances its capabilities in text, voice, and vision.” In my opinion, one model is as good (or bad) as the next. I wouldn’t take any of them as gospel. So consider this more of an entertaining exercise rather than anything serious.

The very first question I posed was: “What color Sonos Ace should I get?” Before I go into the reply, I just want to say that I would consider that a fairly natural way to ask such a question, right? Presumably, ChatGPT would be able to figure out that the Sonos Ace are a thing (even though they may be relatively new, which could potentially pose a problem for the response), and that they come in multiple colors. And it did manage to do those things.

However, there were two issues. Firstly, ChatGPT didn’t understand that the Sonos Ace are headphones. (Again, they might actually be too new for it to recognize.) And then it came up with a color that doesn’t even exist as an option for the Sonos Ace.

This led to a rather humorous response. “The choice of color for a Sonos Ace depends on your personal preference and the style of your space,” it said. Of course, that space is my head. And while I can entertain the idea that I might look better with one color of headphones over another, I would also argue that the style of my space should never matter when it comes to headphones. They are meant to be worn, not seen. Because they are headphones, not speakers.

It gets even 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, once again, none of that is something I really consider when it comes to my headphones.

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 thought of white headphones giving the room an airy look. But okay, I’ll allow 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 simply don’t exist. To be fair, the white version is actually “soft white” and looks more gray than not. But, still. There are no pure gray Sonos Ace headphones.

We’re not done yet. ChatGPT then mused on “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, as far as my head is concerned. But then there’s the issue that Sonos doesn’t (at least as far as I can remember) do that either. The Sonos Roam, new Roam 2, and the Pro-Ject turnables the company sells are the only products that deviate from the black and white binary.

Again, all of this was done out of sheer curiosity. I’m not trying to make ChatGPT feel 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 in the right ballpark, which really made them rather generic and not very good. Like a hastily written paper in sixth grade.

I ran my query once more, this time adding 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 gave 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 incorrect. The answer for the white Sonos Ace was basically the same. More prone to showing off stains, though. So try not to stain your headphones.

But, once again, it also came up with a gray edition of the Sonos Ace, which simply doesn’t exist. The same goes for special edition or custom colors.

The point of all this? I just wanted to see how a modern AI model would answer a question that I had already answered for myself.

Phil 1. ChatGPT 0.