Google Search Introduces ‘Bard’, Its Direct Rival To OpenAI’s ChatGPT Bot

With Microsoft likely to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT into the Bing search engine, fellow rival Google is stepping up, officially introducing its own artificial intelligence chatbot, ‘Bard’. 

According to CNBC, the technology will begin rolling out in the next several weeks, and will serve as a direct competitor to the popular ChatGPT. In Bard’s case, the system will rely on Google’s language model for dialogue applications, or LaMDA.

A blog post by the company reveals it will first be making the software available to “trusted testers” before opening it up to the public. In short, Bard’s main objective will be to make information “universally accessible and useful” to all. 

“It draws on information from the web to provide fresh, high-quality responses. Bard can be an outlet for creativity, and a launchpad for curiosity,” explains Google CEO Sundar Pichai. 

Video via Google

The model will allow users to phrase questions within specific parameters. For example, one may ask how to explain discoveries from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to a nine-year-old child, with answers given in a simpler context.

Initially, Bard will be released on a lightweight model of LaMDA that uses far less computing power so more people around the globe will be able to access the system. The firm will work on its quality and speed after this phase of testing. 

Google posits AI could be the gateway for users on its platforms to receive deeper insights and understandings, allowing individuals to explore a diverse range of opinions and perspectives instead of just one-word answers. 

Going forward, Google Search will soon incorporate these features to help users understand the big picture more quickly, including by presenting additional takes on a subject, featuring blog posts, or linking to a related topic. 

“Whether it’s applying AI to radically transform our own products or making these powerful tools available to others, we’ll continue to be bold with innovation and responsible in our approach. And it’s just the beginning,” concludes Pichai. 

[via CNBC and Google, cover image via Toxawww | Dreamstime.com]