David Gewirtz

Salem

Columnist at CNET

Senior Contributing Editor at ZDNet

CBS Interactive Distinguished Lecturer, ZDNet/CNET columnist, ZATZ founder, puppy daddy. Former UC Berkeley instructor, Mercer professor, CNN and Economist alum

Articles

8 ways to write better ChatGPT prompts - and get the results you want faster

1 week ago | zdnet.com | David Gewirtz

dabldy/Getty ImagesChatGPT is the world's most popular generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool. While there's always the possibility it will simply make stuff up, there's a lot you can do when crafting prompts to ensure the best possible outcome. That's what we'll be exploring in this how-to.
8 ways to write better ChatGPT prompts - and get the results you want faster

1 week ago | flipboard.com | David Gewirtz

2 hours agoCriminals use the internet. Your oversharing could be putting you in danger. If you’re building your personal brand by showing up online and sharing your story, you should think carefully before you include specific details. If you’re posting when you’re on vacation, where you work, and what car …
Why I'm switching to VS Code. Hint: It's all about AI tool integration

1 week ago | zdnet.com | David Gewirtz

A look at the working IDE, with Copilot installed and waiting. David Gewirtz / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETWell, I guess it had to happen. I used profanity and pejoratively scolded an AI. I'm not proud. You could say I did it to myself, and that is true. But I did this for you, so please read on. Let's make all this work worth it for both of us. Also: Is ChatGPT Plus really worth $20 when the free version offers so many premium features?
How to use ChatGPT to write code - and my top trick for debugging what it generates

2 weeks ago | zdnet.com | David Gewirtz

photo_Pawel/Getty ImagesOne of the more intriguing discoveries about ChatGPT is that it can write pretty good code. I first tested this out in 2023 when I asked it to write a WordPress plugin my wife could use on her website. ChatGPT did a fine job, but it was a simple project. Also: The best AI for coding in 2025 (and what not to use)So, how can you use ChatGPT to write code as part of your daily coding practice? Here's a quick summary: ChatGPT can produce both useful and unusable code.
This hidden Chrome feature is my secret productivity trick - here's my favorite way to use it

2 weeks ago | zdnet.com | David Gewirtz

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETYou may have noticed an odd little button that sometimes appears in your Chrome browser bar labeled "Google Lens." It's actually been there for a number of years now, although it doesn't always show up. But have you ever used it? Have you even given it a second thought? Or has it just become one more piece of digital clutter your brain edits out? We've covered Google Lens before on ZDNET. We've done so a number of times, in fact.
How Apple just changed the developer world with this one AI announcement

2 weeks ago | zdnet.com | David Gewirtz

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETThis is big. Really, really big. It's subtle. It's probably not what you think. And it's going to take a few minutes to explain. Before I deconstruct the strategic importance of this move, let's discuss what "it" is. Briefly, Apple is providing access to its on-device AI large language model (LLM) to developers. I can hear you all saying, "That's it? That's this big thing?
How Apple just changed the developer world with this one AI announcement

2 weeks ago | flipboard.com | David Gewirtz

6 hours agoChatGPT is the most popular AI chatbot out there, and we have everything you need to know to get started right here. ChatGPT was originally created by Open AI in 2022, bringing artificial intelligence into the mainstream. Since its introduction it has exploded in popularity, garnering over 400 …
How Cisco plans to stop rogue AI agent attacks inside your network

2 weeks ago | zdnet.com | David Gewirtz

blackdovfx/Getty ImagesDefensive strategies have always been vulnerable to technological innovation. Back in the day, big thick fortress walls were the state of the art, until attackers learned how to hurl objects over the walls and later fly over and drop munitions. Hand-coded messages encrypted with complex ciphers were once thought to be unbreakable, until fast computing power and decryption algorithms made all but the most robust codes ineffective. And now, we have AI.
The best AI for coding in 2025 (including a new winner - and what not to use)

2 weeks ago | zdnet.com | David Gewirtz

photo_Pawel/Getty ImagesI've been around technology long enough that very little excites me, and even less surprises me. But shortly after released, I asked it to . When it did, and the plugin worked, I was indeed surprised. That was the beginning of my deep exploration into chatbots and AI-assisted programming. Since then, I've subjected 14 large language models (LLMs) to four real-world tests.
The best AI for coding in 2025 (including a new winner - and what not to use)

2 weeks ago | flipboard.com | David Gewirtz

1 day agoAs Artificial Intelligence continues to develop, jobs in the tech world are expanding, too. For some, Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has become a part of everyday life. With AI assistant programs like Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT, it’s not uncommon for young people to use it as a tool, whether it’s …