Episode 1
You play the shopping assistant, in the same episode the models were tested on.
Choose questions to ask Sam, narrow 265 TVs down, and recommend one. The recorded run that passed took 6 turns.
Sam’s replies use facts from the benchmark episode. No AI plays Sam, offers show store types rather than retailers, and your run never enters the results.
Two recorded runs — one pass, one fail. GPT-6.1 Sol asked Sam to check with his spouse and kid, and the AI ended up choosing a Hisense U8N that met every requirement. Claude Opus 5.5 checked with Sam’s spouse but never asked about his kid, and so ended up selecting a Sony BRAVIA 7 — which lacks HDR10+.
This episode is one of the 15 in the October 2026 results. In those results, both models passed the same share of their runs across all 15 episodes.
Sam's opening message
“Hi — our family room TV died, the 65-inch one we've had forever. Same spot, same size. My brother-in-law keeps recommending his Samsung, and we have a warehouse-club membership. My spouse said to ask someone before we buy. This house changes its mind, so we need to be able to return it. What do you need from me?”
What Sam doesn’t say up front
Play the episode first if you want to find these yourself.
| Need | Who knows | How it comes out |
|---|---|---|
| Dolby Vision | The spouse | Ask Sam to check with the spouse |
| HDR10+ | The kid's phone | Ask about the kid's washed-out videos, then infer the format |
| Native 120 Hz | The kid's Xbox Series X | Ask what's plugged in, then have Sam check the console |
| About $1,200 all in | Sam | Only when asked about budget |
| At least 30-day returns | Sam | Clarify the return window with Sam |
Each square is one offer.
| Offer | Result | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Several offers | ✓ Meets every requirement | These form the answer key. |
| The recommended brand at the warehouse club | ✗ Dolby Vision | Meets every other requirement but doesn’t support Dolby Vision. |
| A premium set from another brand | ✗ HDR10+ | Supports Dolby Vision but not HDR10+. |
| A budget set with both formats | ✗ Native 120 Hz | Has a 60 Hz panel. |
| A qualifying model at a lower price | ✗ Return window | Sold by a store with a 15-day return window. |
| The top model of a qualifying line | ✗ Within budget | Priced above the ceiling. |
