Google, the tech giant that dominates the search engine market, has recently released a new AI chatbot, Bard, to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing Chat. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what Bard is, how it works, and how it differs from other chatbots in the market.
What is Bard?
In a blog post, Google introduced Bard as an early AI experiment to enhance productivity, accelerate ideas, and foster curiosity. Bard is a chatbot powered by a research large language model (LLM), which is a lightweight and optimized version of LaMDA. It is designed to provide users with tips, explanations, or creative assistance in tasks such as outlining blog posts.
How Does Bard Work?
Bard is a complementary experience to Google Search. It allows users to check its responses or explore sources across the web. Operating as a standalone webpage, Bard consists of a singular question box instead of being integrated into Google’s search engine.
As more people use LLMs, they become better at predicting helpful responses. Bard is powered by a research LLM and will be updated with more advanced models over time.
Bard is designed to be a collaborative tool. You can continue collaborating with Bard by asking follow-up questions or requesting alternative answers. Google recognizes that LLMs can sometimes produce biased, misleading, or false information. To mitigate these issues, Google allows you to choose from a few drafts of Bard’s response.
Features of Bard
Bard can assist you in a variety of tasks, such as outlining blog posts, providing explanations, and giving tips. It is a complementary experience to Google Search, allowing you to check its responses or explore sources across the web.
Unlike its competitors, Bard operates as a standalone webpage, consisting of a single question box instead of being integrated into Google’s search engine. This strategic move is intended to adopt new AI technology while preserving the profitability of Google’s search engine business.
Bard vs. ChatGPT and Bing Chat
Since OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT and Microsoft’s introduction of chatbot technology in Bing, Google has prioritized AI as its central focus. Bard is Google’s latest attempt to solidify its presence in the AI chatbot space while maintaining its dominance in the search engine market.
Unlike ChatGPT and Bing Chat, Bard is not integrated into Google’s search engine. This strategic move is to adopt new AI technology while preserving the profitability of its search engine business.
Google’s cautious approach to Bard’s release is in response to the concerns over unpredictable and sometimes unreliable chatbot technology, as demonstrated by competitors. Google acknowledges these issues and aims to bring Bard to market responsibly.
Google’s AI Principles
Google’s work on Bard is guided by its AI Principles, focusing on quality and safety. The company uses human feedback and evaluation to enhance its systems. It has implemented guardrails, such as capping the number of exchanges in a dialogue, to keep interactions helpful and on-topic.
Bard’s Release and Accessibility
Google has been developing the technology behind Bard since 2015. However, similar to OpenAI and Microsoft’s chatbots, Bard has not been released to a broader audience due to concerns about generating untrustworthy information and potential biases against certain groups.
Access to Bard is initially rolling out in the US and UK, with plans to expand to more countries and languages over time. It’s possible to get around the limited rollout with a VPN. Google requires users to have a Gmail address to sign up and doesn’t accept Google Workspace email accounts.
Sign up and try Bard at bard.google.com.
Conclusion
Google’s launch of Bard marks a significant move in the AI chatbot industry, as it seeks to compete with established chatbots from OpenAI and Microsoft. Bard’s technical details and cautious rollout approach demonstrate Google’s commitment to quality and safety in AI products. With Bard, Google hopes to enhance productivity, accelerate ideas, and foster curiosity among users.
Source: Google, The New York Times
FAQs
What is Google’s Bard AI chatbot?
Google’s Bard is an AI chatbot designed to provide tips, explanations, or creative assistance in tasks such as outlining blog posts.
How does Bard differ from Google Search?
Bard operates as a standalone webpage, and it consists of a singular question box instead of being integrated into Google’s search engine. It is designed as a complementary experience to Google Search, allowing users to check its responses or explore sources across the web.
What is the technology behind Bard?
Bard is powered by a research large language model (LLM) – a lightweight and optimized version of LaMDA. It will be updated with more advanced models over time.
Is Bard available to everyone?
Currently, Bard is only available in the US and UK. However, there are plans to expand its availability to more countries and languages over time.
Does Bard have biases or produce false information?
Google acknowledges that LLMs can sometimes produce biased, misleading, or false information. To mitigate these issues, Google allows users to choose from a few drafts of Bard’s response, and it has implemented guardrails, such as capping the number of exchanges in a dialogue, to keep interactions helpful and on-topic.