I asked AI to find the best mattress for me. Here’s How It Compares With My Advice As A Mattress Expert

Buying a new mattress as a beginner can be overwhelming. There are many options on the market, such as foam mattresses, inner beds and hybrid mattresses. With an often hefty price tag, it’s not something you want to buy without doing your research.

I have been in the mattress industry for years, so I know the type of mattress I need based on my sleeping position, body type, budget and preferences. I know that not everyone has the same understanding.

I asked the AI ​​to recommend a mattress to see how it compared to my advice as a mattress expert. Here is what I found.

Read more: I slept with a robot to sleep better. This Is What Happened

Mattress recommendations from AI

As a very open AI model, I first turned to Chat GPT 3.5 to ask for mattress advice. Then I ran the new version, Chat GPT 4, and compared my results. Here’s what each AI model knows about the mattress.

Tips from Chat GPT 3.5

To begin my research, I first asked the 3.5 AI model, “Can you recommend a mattress? I’m a side sleeper who gets hot at night.”

AI gave me a few factors to keep in mind when choosing a mattress, it told me that it can’t give me the exact types of mattress or products as its information was cut off in its last update in January 2022. It gave me three useful ones. points. Let’s dive into them.

Level of intensity: ChatGPT told me to consider a medium-firm to firm mattress. It wrote, “This can provide the necessary correction of the spine for abdominal sleep.” I agree that medium-firm to firm can work for some stomach sleepers, but failed to realize that combination sleepers may need medium-firm. If I’m on my side, I probably won’t be comfortable in a bed that’s too firm as it can put too much pressure on my waist and shoulders.

Temperature control: ChatGPT also told me to look for mattresses with cooling technology. This may be obvious advice, but it’s important. He told me to look for mattresses with “cooling gel layers or breathable material,” which can be misleading because not all cooling mattresses use gel (and not all gel mattresses actively cool). It also does not provide any other breathable materials such as latex foam, springs or hyper-elastic polymer.

Materials: Finally, Chat GPT 3.5 told me to get a mattress with “memory foam with open cell construction.” I believe it means perforated memory foam or latex foam, but the words are a bit confusing. It’s okay that this item is perfect for side sleeping and heated sleeping areas.

The model concludes by commenting, “It’s best to test mattresses in person to find one that suits your preferences.” I agree with this statement, and I’m glad that it encouraged me to do some mattress testing on my own rather than blindly listening to its advice. This model couldn’t give me much information and failed to give me specific brands or beds to test.

Advice from Chat GPT 4

The information from Chat GPT 3.5 was helpful, I know that customers often want specific brands and models of mattresses. So I tried version 4 instead (note: it’s $20 a month for this upgrade).

I said to this AI model, “I’m buying a mattress. I’m a co-sleeper, and I sleep hot. Can you recommend a mattress?” In context, a sleep mixer is someone who moves between sleeping areas in the middle of the night. In my case, I alternate between sleeping on my stomach and sleeping on my side.

To my surprise, the AI ​​was able to give me the types of mattresses this time. Recommend memory foam mattresses with cooling gel, hybrid mattresses, latex mattresses and innerspring mattresses. The answer also included a firmness level of medium-firm, which contradicts what I was told by the first model.

From that information, I asked the AI ​​if it could recommend specific types of mattresses. We recommend the top eight brands that are popular among sleeping compounds and have cooling properties. Recommends Saatva, Purple, Casper, Helix, Tempur-Pedic, Leesa and Brooklyn Bedding. Two of those brands made our Best Comfort Mattress list, five made our Best Side Sleepers list and three topped our Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers list.

I went ahead and said, “Given those brands, I’ve listed 10 specific models that fit my needs.” It gave me good information and the following mattresses:

I first noticed that two of the mattresses on this list no longer exist or go by other names. The Purple hybrid mattress is no longer named “Purple Hybrid Premier.” Instead, Purple now offers three different hybrid models: the Purple Restore Hybrid Mattress, the Purple RestorePlus Hybrid Mattress and the Purple Restore Premier Hybrid Mattress. The same goes for the Bear Mattress. Its hybrid mattress, once known as Bear Hybrid, is now divided into three types: Elite Hybrid, Star Hybrid and Pro Hybrid. Not sure which Purple and Bear hybrid mattresses the AI ​​was recommending.

I also noticed that the additional information that came with each mattress model was very accurate but had a few inaccuracies. For example, ChatGPT told me that the Casper Wave Hybrid is a hybrid mattress with foam and coils and features “targeted pressure relief zone support, AirScape airflow technology and a cooling gel layer.” The features were there, right down to the technology with the name, this is a memory foam and coil mattress, not foam and coil (yes, there is a difference between foam and memory foam). Find a few mattresses like the Helix Midnight Luxe. AI correctly described this mattress as a memory foam and coil hybrid with “designed lumbar support, an expanded Tencel pillow cover for breathability and a medium firm feel.”

Finally, as Chat 3.5 did, the model left me a message about trying out these mats in person. It said, “be sure to check trial periods and warranties when shopping to ensure you have enough time to test the mattress and are covered in case of problems.”

Advice from human mattress experts

So, did the AI ​​get it right? Here’s what I was surprised to know and how different my advice is.

What is good AI

The AI ​​gets a few points from me for knowing the following:

• Hot spots: The first AI model was good enough to tell hot sleepers to look for a bed with breathable material like cooling gel.
• Mattress products: Types recommended by version 4 were present. Saatva, Purple, Casper, Brooklyn Bedding, etc. Popular brands have models that accommodate multiple sleepers and make up our wide range of mattresses. A human mattress expert can recommend those types as well.
• Mattress models: The specific beds you provided were good options for the needs I mentioned. The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is at the top of our list of Best Cool Mattresses and is a mattress I would recommend for all sleep types.

How different is my advice

Someone with mattress experience can tell you the following:

• Body type is important: I didn’t tell the AI ​​that I’m a small person in the general body type, but it didn’t mention this in any of its answers. Body type needs to be considered when looking for a mattress because this affects how firm or soft the bed will feel to you.
• Enter your budget: The AI ​​didn’t give me anything about prices or budgets (most likely because prices are always different by sale). Budget needs to be considered as mattresses vary in price.
• Other building materials: The answers I got didn’t go into things other than foam, memory foam and coils. There are many out there that could be better for you. For example, latex foam can be synthetic or natural and can be more supportive, firmer and stronger than memory foam.
• The intensity level: AI specified firmness levels for some beds, but didn’t tell me what firmness I should get for each mattress model. A mild firmness can work for some side sleepers, while a medium firmness is good for some side sleepers, back pain or combination sleepers. Moderate to severe for stomach sleepers or back sleepers. Remember that even though the bed may be medium, it may feel firm or soft on you depending on your weight and the sleeping position you choose.

Should you ask AI which mattress to buy?

It’s true — AI can give you great mattress options. If you’re looking for a new mattress and don’t know where to start, AI can be a quick song for inspiration. You need to double check all the information it gives you. The mattress industry moves quickly, and some models may be replaced or discontinued.

In the end, it’s best to first do your research and try the mattress physically. This can be done in store or by ordering one online. Most — if not all — online mattress companies have great trial periods that allow you to try the mattress for free and return it if you don’t like it. Mattresses also have warranties — use those.