Bard, Google’s Latest AI, Set to Clash with ChatGPT

Google unveiled Bard, an AI chatbot technology, on Monday, which will soon be launched in the market. It comes after a busy week that saw Google announcing its investment in Anthropic, an AI safety and research startup founded by former OpenAI employees.

The intensifying war between Google and Microsoft seems to be coming to a head as it now directly clashes against ChatGPT with Bard, an AI powered by Google’s LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications). In a blog post, Google stated that it would initially make the technology accessible to “trusted testers” before a wider release to the public.

Bard Is Part of Google’s “Code Red” Response

The rise of ChatGPT has posed a serious threat to Google’s dominance in AI. Moreover, with Microsoft’s decision to use the technology in its products, including the Bing search engine, it is challenging Google at its core.

As such, Google has been rushing to respond to the threat with its own AI features. The features are being tested internally as part of a plan that Google has called “code red,” signifying just how seriously the tech giant is taking it.

Among the features Google is developing is a chatbot called “Apprentice Bard” and new search desktop designs to be used in a question-and-answer format. Essentially, the direct ChatGPT competitor. Considering how overloaded ChatGPT’s servers get at times, a powerful rival might be precisely what is needed.

But it is not limited to questions and answers. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has explained that the AI-powered features will be used in Search and will provide users with simplified information and multiple perspectives. Doing so will allow people to quickly understand a topic and explore related information, such as in-depth information on related topics.

According to Pichai, Bard will also be able to explain complex topics in a way that a 9-year-old would be able to understand. The example used was new discoveries from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

Treading Carefully to Retain Reputation

One struggle Google has come across in its AI journey is keeping its reputation from suffering due to incorrect information or other potential problems. While there are obvious cases of AI going awry, Google’s status as a major company and pioneer in the field is at stake should something go wrong.

Because of that, Google’s AI chief, Jeff Dean, reportedly informed employees that the company was approaching everything with caution. Despite that, both Dean and CEO Sundar Pichai have hinted that similar products would likely be released to the public in the future.

On Monday, Google emphasized the importance of thorough testing when it comes to AI. The company plans to combine external feedback with its own internal testing to ensure that Bard’s responses meet high standards for quality, safety, and accuracy in real-world information.

AI Focus Was Part of the January Layoffs

It comes as no surprise that Google is approaching AI with fervor. In January, the company laid off 12,000 employees, and one of the biggest reasons was its focus on AI technology. At the time, the company stated that it made the decision, even if it meant making “tough choices.”