Master Gen AI Your Expert Guide To 29 Uses

Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET

Where are you on your gen AI journey? This guide by CNET's experts will point you in the right direction.

If you haven't added generative AI to your skill set yet, you should. AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Gemini and AI image generators including Dall-E and Canva are handy, accessible and often free to use. They're also powerful gateways for getting things done, whether it's for work, a hobby or general knowledge. Now's the time to start getting familiar with them.

And many of us have, to some degree. The ChatGPT app is reliably among the top downloads from Apple's and Google's app stores, and ChatGPT maker OpenAI puts its user numbers in the hundreds of millions. Rivals Google, Meta and Microsoft are making it harder to avoid their own AI tools.

Meanwhile, AI is reshaping the workplace along with the rest of the world, and you need to be prepared. In an IBM survey of 2,000 CEOs earlier this year, respondents said that nearly 1 in 3 workers will need retraining over the next three years, and just over half said they're hiring for AI-related roles that didn't exist a year ago.

"The rate at which roles will change is far faster than most folks can imagine," says Winnie Kroculick, co-author with Antara Dutta of the new book Own Your Future: AI for All.

They advocate getting hands-on with the many AI options readily available, with a sense of play as a way to learn and grow.

"What's fun when you're using AI tools," Kroculick says, "is seeing what types of responses you can get from the different tools, so giving ChatGPT versus Copilot versus Gemini versus Claude a prompt and seeing what the outcome is."

At CNET, we're exploring, testing and thinking about AI every day, from chatbots to the phones that have gen AI built in. This article pulls together many of our learnings into a compendium of ways you can get started with gen AI, the most dynamic technology of today. The easy-to-scan short writeups below all link out to full-length articles and reviews that dig deeper into the details. Consider it your guide to the skills you'll need to develop in 2025 to be a savvy consumer of AI.

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Getting started with AI

Talk to AI the right way

Ask a chatbot a question and you'll get an answer. But what kind of answer you get — how helpful it is, how close it gets to what you're after — depends on how you phrase that question ("What is...") or command ("Tell me…"). Either way, it's known as a prompt. There's a whole art to writing (or speaking) that prompt, and even a good first attempt may require refinement to get you closer and closer to your goal. And that can be part of the fun. You'll get a better idea of what it is you need and you'll see that AI brain at work. Mary-Elisabeth Combs and Nelson Aguilar lay it all out with clear, concise guidance. – Jon Skillings, editorial director

👉 See: Prompt Engineering: What to Know and Why It's So Important

The more detailed and specific your prompt, the more on-target an AI chatbot's answer is likely to be. Screenshot by Clifford Colby/CNET

Get familiar with key AI terms

A first step toward understanding AI is getting to know some important terms. The vocabulary ranges from basics such as algorithm, hallucinations and inference to more complicated concepts like agentive or diffusion. Getting to know AI jargon will help you both navigate this emerging field and also make you sound smart at parties. – Imad Khan, senior reporter

👉 See: ChatGPT Glossary: AI Terms Everyone Should Know

Consider a crash course in AI

If you keep hearing about all the ways AI can streamline your tasks, make you more creative and help you become more productive, but you have no idea where to start, then this course could be for you. MasterClass' three-part Achieve More with GenAI series covers ground like the history and context of AI, how to use it to develop a business plan, AI prompting techniques, visual and audio design, and the ethics of AI. We found it a great way to not only learn the basics and get comfortable with using AI, but also to kick off multiple different AI projects under the guidance of experts. – Corinne Reichert, senior editor

👉 See: I Paid for an AI MasterClass Course. I Haven't Stopped Using AI Since

Get started with ChatGPT

The best piece of advice I can give to first-time ChatGPT users is to shift your mindset away from traditional search engine habits. Rather than using ChatGPT like you would Google, try to think of it as a conversation with someone who's ready to help you figure things out. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET's parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against ChatGPT maker OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

When using ChatGPT, vague questions won't give you the best answers. For example, if you ask, "Can you plan a one-week vacation to Thailand?" you won't get as useful a response as you might expect. Instead, dive into the details. A more effective prompt would be: "I'm a 30-year-old man planning a one-week vacation to Thailand later this year. My budget is around $5,000, and I want to visit when it's warm, but not too hot. I'd prefer to stay near the water and within walking distance of bars, restaurants and hiking spots. I would also like to visit a few temples."

The key is to give ChatGPT as much context as possible, just like you would if you were talking to a professional who needs all the specifics to give you the best advice, tailored to you. – Nelson Aguilar, How To writer

👉 See: How to Use ChatGPT: A Beginner's Guide

Go premium... when it makes sense

Let's break down what each tier gets you. The free version of ChatGPT Free gets you access to the lighter version of the powerful GPT-4o model, meaning it can generate novel text, summarize papers or analyze photos. It can also generate images. It gives limited access to the more advanced GPT-4o model and the o3-mini model, the latter of which is capable of "reasoning," or taking the time to think things through before giving you a final answer. Paying $20 a month for ChatGPT Plus gets you access to OpenAI's most advanced model, o1, though in a limited capacity. This model can handle much more complex tasks such as quantitative reasoning and can give thoughts on difficult ethical questions. – Imad Khan

👉 See: ChatGPT Free vs. ChatGPT Plus: Worth the $20 Upgrade?

Check out Google Gemini as well

Google is throwing Gemini into Search, Android and just about every other thing it owns. Gemini and ChatGPT offer a similar range of capabilities, including text and image generation, coding assistance and audio analysis. When we compared Gemini to ChatGPT last year, we ultimately gave the edge to Gemini for having more features. The gap has closed since then. So yes, Gemini is a fine alternative to ChatGPT. If you've purchased a Pixel 9 Pro or Pixel 9 Pro Fold phone, that gives you one year of Gemini Advanced for free. If you're in this boat, then definitely go with Gemini Advanced. – Imad Khan

👉 See: ChatGPT vs Google Gemini: Which Chatbot Wins?

Look for AI on social media

AI is a part of some social media platforms. For instance, there's Meta AI, which can be helpful if you're trying to get some inspiration with a caption or find the right word. But it can easily miss the mark and give you something that feels like a robot impersonating a human — think Steve Buscemi's "How do you do, fellow kids" scene. I've tried it with personal posts on Instagram, and it worked well for simple, cheesy captions. But when I asked Meta AI to help make a message to our CNET Broadcast Channel a little more personable with humor, what it gave me was obviously crafted by AI and read like someone trying too hard. Ask it to add emoji and it will spam your message with emoji like someone's mom who just discovered them. Also, to my surprise, X's Grok is useful for when you need a little more context on a post you're viewing or a subject you're curious about on the platform. I noticed this feature when checking out posts in the Explore section. – Theodore Liggins, social media producer

👉 See: CNET on Instagram, X/Twitter, Bluesky and TikTok

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AI at home

Use AI with your security camera

Today's home cameras are smart — so smart, they're starting to take care of small tasks for us. The algorithms in modern security cameras can identify and ignore vehicles or pets, while recognizing people carrying packages and alerting you for a quick pickup. You can adjust the sensitivity of these features, where the AI is looking and what alerts you get on your phone with just a few minutes in the camera's app.

Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET

If you want to put even more faith in AI, you have options to program familiar faces — from family members to dogwalkers — so the cameras let you know if someone trusted is approaching. Some companies are also exploring ways for cams to identify specific vehicles or the condition of a room (like if a valuable piece of art is missing). It's an exciting era for smart home AI, but it's also important to keep an eye on your privacy as we entrust AI with more and more personal details. – Tyler Lacoma, home security and smart home editor

👉 See: I Thought I'd Hate AI in Home Security. I Couldn't Have Been More Wrong

Plan a meal and your grocery shopping

AI can't cook a meal for you, but it can help you decide what to make, which is often half the battle. You can, for instance, ask ChatGPT to create a weekly meal plan for you, insert any dietary restrictions or preferences you have and let AI do the rest. Within seconds it will whip up meal ideas (no pun intended) and cooking instructions. If you don't like what you see, you can ask for it to tweak a certain recipe or for an entirely new meal plan. You can also prompt ChatGPT to give you a grocery list for the meal plan.

Or if you already have a house full of ingredients and no clue what to do with them, you can tell ChatGPT what ingredients you have, then ask for a recipe idea you can make with them. – Corin Cesaric, flex editor

👉 See: Meal Planning and Grocery Shopping With ChatGPT Saved Me Money and Time

Getty Images / Zooey Liao/CNET

Manage your money better

Do you struggle with sticking to spending limits? Unsure how to reach that savings goal? Or do you simply hate thinking about your finances? The next generation of AI money apps is here to help. They can create a budget customized to your situation, show you ways to reach your financial goals, boost your money smarts and even deliver pep talks to help you stay on track. It's like having your own personal assistant to cut through the maze of financial advice out there, identify the tips you need now and take some of the stress out of managing your money.

Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET

But for all that AI can do, it's important to remember that it's not a financial adviser. It doesn't always get things right, and you should weigh any guidance it gives you against trustworthy financial resources (and your own gut). Consider it one tool in your money management toolbox — a potentially powerful one, but one you should know how to wield skillfully. – Kelly Ernst, CNET Money editor

👉 See: Is AI the Answer to Your Money Problems? We're Starting to Find Out

Learn a new language

Picking up a new language as an adult is a challenge, but AI can at least make practicing easier. Ask ChatGPT or other generative AI chatbots to create short lessons for you that can teach you basic phrases in your target language. Use the tools to delve into the culture of the country where the language is spoken, which will connect you to your practice on a deeper level.

Although chatbots won't magically make you learn a language overnight, they are a great way to practice and can serve as a language partner who's available 24/7, so you can practice whenever it's convenient for you. There are also other popular language learning tools that use AI, such as Babbel and Duolingo, which offer a variety of languages for users to choose from. – Corin Cesaric

👉 See: Chatbots Are Here Now to Help You Learn a Language. I Gave It a Try.

Plan your next trip

From choosing a vacation destination to booking flights and hotels to organizing a full itinerary, travel planning can be overwhelming. While a travel agent or travel guidebooks are proven resources, AI chatbots can assist in creating a personalized trip in mere minutes. For instance, Google's AI-powered tools can help you brainstorm destinations, compare flights, map out itineraries and uncover hidden gems you might not find in a traditional travel guide. Just type in a quick command, such as "Create an itinerary for England with a focus on history" or "Create an itinerary for New Zealand with a focus on nature," your budget range and date preferences, and the AI will have suggestions in the blink of an eye. As always with gen AI, be sure to fact-check its answers. – Macy Meyer, How To writer

👉 See: The 6 New Google AI Features I'm Using to Plan My Summer Travel

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AI and wellness

Make AI part of your fitness routine

Working out at the gym, enjoying your time there and even knowing what you're doing are not universal experiences — hence the term "gymtimidation," or gym anxiety. That's part of the appeal of an AI gym like Fred Fitness, which I visited in Los Angeles. All of the machines were made by smart fitness company EGYM, whose AI, called Genius, generates training plans for an app and wristband that can connect with every machine in the gym. You can follow that plan, customize it or treat Fred Fitness like a normal gym and do whatever you want.

What Fred Fitness discovered — and what I learned testing out the gym — is that humans are still needed. AI can assess your fitness and set up a framework for you, but it can't teach you how to use the machines, adjust them to fit your body or correct your form (at least not yet). I enjoyed my time at this AI gym and think it would be a smooth experience once you get used to the technology, but for me, personal training requires personal trainers, the human kind. – Anna Gragert, wellness editor

👉 See: I Tested the First Full-Scale, AI-Powered Gym. It's Fun, but Humans Are Still Needed

Use AI to create a bedtime routine

Do you struggle to fall asleep at night? Or perhaps staying asleep is what you struggle with. Either way, you're not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 15% of US adults grapple with falling asleep, while 18% report struggling with staying asleep. Creating and sticking to a bedtime routine can significantly improve your sleep and the quality of it. But there's no one-size-fits-all routine that works for everyone. Enter artificial intelligence — your potential ally in getting better sleep. You can turn to AI to find your ideal sleep routine to optimize your sleep habits. The more information you give it about your habits and preferences, the better it can tailor a routine that suits your needs and lifestyle. – Nasha Addarich Martinez, managing editor

👉 See: Sleeping With Robots. How AI Transformed My Sleep

Prepare for your next doctor appointment with AI's help

If you've had a medical appointment recently, you know that time spent with your doctor is precious and fleeting. To ensure all of your questions are answered and your health concerns are addressed, it's important to come prepared. This is where generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT come in: They can serve as a sounding board for helping you lay out your health concerns, even offering you example questions of what you can ask your doctor so you're not left feeling frustrated or unheard later.

For example, you can ask ChatGPT questions relevant to your own health to get the ball rolling: "I'm 30 years old, have a family history of diabetes and am worried about my risk as I get older. What blood tests and preventive action should I take?" or "The anti-anxiety medication I was prescribed isn't helping. What other therapies or medications should I ask my doctor about?"

Don't be afraid to screenshot or copy your example questions into a notebook so you don't forget before you're rushed out the door. (Remember, though: AI can't give you real medical advice.) – Jessica Rendall, former wellness reporter

👉 See: ChatGPT for Self-Diagnosis: AI Is Changing the Way We Answer Our Own Health Questions

Try AI, carefully, to work through your grief

If you're missing a deceased loved one on a holiday or anniversary, ChatGPT and other gen AI tools could possibly help ease the pain. These tools can give you ideas on how to include or honor their memories on these challenging days. In addition, other tools — such as Pi, which calls itself "the first emotionally intelligent AI" — could be useful for someone who's unable to access traditional grief care or therapy. And while numerous AI-powered programs could attempt to recreate conversations or the voices of your deceased loved ones, experts don't recommend taking your grieving to that level. – Corin Cesaric

👉 See: Should We Be Using AI for Grief? Here's What Experts Think

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AI for work

Try out the Copilot AI chatbot on a Copilot Plus PC

A Copilot Plus PC is Microsoft's name for any Windows laptop that hits a few key specs, namely a neural processing unit capable of more than 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS) for local AI acceleration. Many of the latest mobile processors from AMD, Intel and Qualcomm have NPUs that meet this threshold, so chances are good your next Windows laptop will be a Copilot Plus PC with AI features. It's a broad category that includes budget models priced below $1,000.

Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET

With the controversial and delayed Recall feature still only in preview, the headlining AI tool of Copilot Plus PCs is Copilot, Microsoft's generative AI chatbot. Powered by ChatGPT 4 and with access to Bing's internet search data, Copilot is an excellent chatbot — and free to use. Many Copilot Plus PCs have a dedicated key to launch the chatbot, but you'll also find an icon for it in the Windows taskbar and Edge, Microsoft's web browser. You'll need the $20-a-month paid version, however, to use Copilot within Microsoft 365 apps — including Word, Excel, Outlook, Loop and Whiteboard — to generate ideas, answer questions, summarize information, create images, rewrite text and more. – Matt Elliott, senior editor

👉 See: The 3 Best Things About Copilot Plus PCs (and 3 Things They Need to Add)

Make your messages safe for work with AI on iPhone

It can be difficult to write messages for different contexts. What you send to your friends and family might not be appropriate to send to your boss or business partner. But when Apple released iOS 18.1 in November, the tech giant made it easy to make your messages safe for the workplace or to make them sound a little more formal. When Apple released iOS 18.1, it brought writing tools to some iPhones as part of Apple Intelligence These tools can proofread your message before you send it or revise your message to make it sound more professional. Before you send your revised message you should still read over it once to make sure that Apple Intelligence's changes make sense in context. – Zach McAuliffe, services and software writer

👉 See: How to Proofread, Edit and More With Apple Intelligence

Use AI to be more productive

AI can't do your job for you, but you could use it to streamline your day so you have more time for important work. Some of the best ways to incorporate AI into your professional life without compromising on the quality of your work include using Microsoft Copilot to make notes for you on lengthy PDFs, using Zoom's AI Companion to summarize a meeting you've just had and using Grammarly's AI boost to edit your emails, documents and even social media posts. You can also ask Google's Gemini to summarize your Google Docs, use Prezi AI to create a slide deck, ask Motion AI to automatically plan and adjust your calendar each day, and get ChatGPT to soften your email voice.

Just remember to always double-check the info any AI tool spits out at you. Even when all you've asked it to do is summarize a document, AI has been known to make up details that aren't accurate. – Corinne Reichert

👉 See: Try These 9 Ways to Streamline Work Productivity With AI, but Don't Try This One

Go job hunting using AI

Landing a new role is almost a competitive sport, and time-consuming. Enter AI, which is great at finding and summarizing information, rewording your work descriptions and providing suggestions. For instance, try using ChatGPT to write your resume, and Figma AI to visually design a resume that'll help you stand out. ChatGPT can also give you suggestions for job roles, company types and career paths that align with your experience and goals, and can then churn out individualized cover letters for all your applications. Then there are tools like Final Round AI, which will help you prep for a job interview with some practice rounds, and — once you've landed a job offer — AI chatbots can also help come up with a script to negotiate your starting salary.

Some caveats: Check all the details and wording AI suggests for your resume and cover letters, to make sure it hasn't hallucinated and lied on your job application. Also, be sure not to put any sensitive or personally identifiable information into a chatbot, just in case there's ever a data breach. – Corinne Reichert

👉 See: Job Hunting With AI: 7 Techniques We Tried and How to Use Them

Check for plagiarism with AI

If you're a teacher, you've likely received essays that read too safe and predictable, as if a machine was trying to emulate how people write. For good reason: There's a chance it was written by AI. It's happening in job applications, emails and blog posts, too. The phenomenon exploded after ChatGPT's debut in 2022. So you need to be on the lookout, but also be careful not to accuse people of using AI without some evidence. Luckily, there are AI plagiarism-checkers, some free and some paid, that can help. One that stands out to me is Copyleaks, which has been around since 2015. Or click on the link here to read how one CNET contributor, a professor of strategic communications, catches — or deters — cheaters in her classes. – Imad Khan

👉 See: How to Detect AI Writing

Keep your data safe while using an AI chatbot

Anything entered into a large-language model becomes part of it. And once that happens, there's really no way to claw back that data. For that reason it's important you keep your private information out of those systems as much as possible. AI security practices are still in their infancy. Experts are still trying to figure out the best ways to secure this kind of software. Accidental leaks can happen, and just like any other system, AI ones can be breached and their data stolen. Obviously, you can never completely control what companies and other groups do with your data, but you can avoid handing over personal details when you use an AI-powered system. Think twice before getting too personal with a LLM and never give it your most private data like your Social Security number or banking information. – Bree Fowler, senior writer

👉 See: Be Careful With the Data You Give DeepSeek... and Every Other AI

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The Leonardo AI image generator might not understand "cottage core coastal grandma," but it does understand the rustic feel with blues and warm light. Created by Katelyn Chedraoui using Leonardo AI

Creating images with AI

Pick the best AI generator for you

Creating unique and personalized art is easier and quicker than ever, thanks to generative AI. AI image generators use text-to-image tech that lets you bring your artistic visions to life with simple text prompts. But not every AI image generator is created equal, and not all will be right for your project, needs and budget. Our top pick is Dall-E 3 by OpenAI, with its conversational flow and detailed renderings. If you're looking for a beginner-friendly program, Leonardo.Ai is great, and professionals might want to play around with Adobe's Firefly model. Check out our full rankings and reviews via the link below to learn how to pick the best program for you. – Katelyn Chedraoui, staff writer

👉 See: Best AI Image Generators of 2025

Write a perfect AI image prompt

To make the best AI images, you need to start with the right prompt. Prompts are the keywords or phrases you give the image generator to describe your artistic vision. Every prompt needs these three essential elements: the characters/elements, the setting and the image dimensions. From there, you can build out your prompt to be more descriptive. Think about what aesthetic or artistic style you want (photography, cartoon, anime) or what color palette you want.

Try to think holistically about your art: What emotion do you want to evoke? What's the end product you're looking for? If your generator lets you upload a style or reference image, be sure to take advantage of those tools. Every generator understands prompts differently, so take some time to get to know your service. – Katelyn Chedraoui

👉 See: Create Better AI Images With These Expert Prompt Writing Tips

Use the iPhone's Clean Up tool to remove distractions in photos

With iOS 18, Apple added a long-awaited feature (at least, long awaited by me) that lets you remove distractions from the background of your otherwise perfect shot, such as photobombers. Called Clean Up, it lives within Photos and uses AI to essentially erase whatever — or whoever — you want.

Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET

If you have an iPhone 15 Pro model, iPhone 16 device or iPad or Mac with an M-series chip (essentially, a device that supports Apple Intelligence), you can access Clean Up by going to Photos, then tapping the three lines at the bottom right of the screen. Then, hit Clean Up.

From there, you can tap or circle what you'd like to remove. You can even pinch to zoom in and get closer, if there's something smaller you'd like to eliminate. And voila! You've got an Instagram-ready, distraction-free shot. – Abrar Al-Heeti, senior reporter

👉 See: How to Remove Distractions From Your Holiday Photos Using Apple's Clean Up Tool

Fix a weird or wonky AI image

So, you've generated an image using AI, and it's just… not quite right. A weird flub in the background, a disappearing element, a person with three legs and 14 fingers — despite constant advancements, AI image generators aren't perfect.

Mistakes (or hallucinations) like these are headaches I've had to deal with many times while testing and reviewing different AI generators. There's not one specific reason why your image didn't come out quite right, but I recommend starting at the beginning. Revisit your prompt to make sure it's addressing everything you want, and take out any conflicting instructions. Try not to use too many post-generation editing tools. Less is more. If that still isn't working, it might be time to start from scratch or even pick a different service. – Katelyn Chedraoui

👉 See: Learn From My Worst AI Images and Fix These Biggest AI Fails

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Digging deeper

Remove or reduce AI features on your Samsung Galaxy phone

It's almost impossible to find a new phone that doesn't tout AI features. Unlike the Pixels and the iPhones of the world, Samsung gives you a lot of extra... everything. From preinstalled bloatware to its own app store that allows you extend the functionality of your phone, it's a lot. With so many features packed into Galaxy S phones, you may want to draw a line when it comes to AI. Until it becomes less gimmicky, at least. Luckily, Samsung also makes it fairly easy to turn off its built-in AI features — something we'd love to see Google allow you to do on its Pixel lineup.

But it's not just about turning AI off. You can be selective about what AI features you want and turn off the ones you don't. In this sense, Samsung's "extra-ness" pays off. If you're an iPhone user, you have your own set of options for turning off Apple Intelligence. – Blake Stimac, How To Writer

👉 See: How to Turn Off AI on Your Samsung Galaxy Phone, or at Least Rein It In

Find info using Circle to Search

Ever see something on your phone and wish you could just Google it, without having to leave the app that you're in? That's exactly what Circle to Search does. On your compatible Android phone, all you need to do is press and hold the home button, draw a quick circle around whatever caught your eye, and boom — Google gives you all the details you need.

It's great for quick product lookups, translating text, or just settling those "what is that?" moments. It started on newer phones, like the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8, but it's since rolled out to older models like the Galaxy S21 and Pixel 6. There's also a similar feature available in Google Chrome for the iPhone, in case you're team Apple. – Nelson Aguilar

👉 See: Google Brings Circle to Search-Like Feature to the iPhone in Its Google and Chrome Apps

Use AI to spice up your photos on the Google Pixel 9

While the Pixel 9 series of phones pack superb cameras, the baked-in AI image editing tools let you easily take things further by adding or removing items from the frame. Start by opening an image in the library, then tap Edit, then tap the multicolored image icon tucked in the bottom left corner of the screen. This will bring up the AI-based Magic Editor.

In the tool, you can now tap on areas of your image — the sky, for example — or draw circles around certain objects to select them and then tap Reimagine. This will bring up a text box allowing you to type in your prompts of what you want to see. I might circle a section of empty, boring sky and type a prompt of "flock of birds" to add an extra element into the scene, or add some flowers to liven up a dull patch of grass. Each prompt will give you three options to choose from and you can press Redo to get a new set of results. – Andrew Lanxon, editor at large

👉 See: Pixel 9 Pro XL Review: 2 Months Later, Google's Phone Still Rocks