Google Bard, a competitor to ChatGPT, is Google's response to ChatGPT, but it's also a different application. It's a chatbot that allows you to do everything from planning a birthday party and drafting an email to answering questions on complex topics. It even enables programming and will soon feature an AI image generator thanks to Adobe.
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It's worth noting that Google has quickly pointed out that some of Bard's responses may be inaccurate. Google sees this application as a complementary experience to its vast AI research, and you'll notice a "Google It" button next to the responses when using Bard, which takes you to Google search for more information.
The good news is that the waitlist for Bard is over. Initially, Google limited access to Bard's AI technology, but now the experimental AI is available in 180 countries and three languages.
We will continue to test Bard's features as they roll out, but for now, here's everything we know so far about Bard AI.
1- What is Google Bard?
Google Bard is an AI chatbot, just like ChatGPT, powered by a language model to converse with users.
Initially, Bard used the Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA) to train it for conversation, but it now also utilizes the Pathways Language Model 2 (PaLM 2), which will power Bard's more advanced features like coding and multimedia search (coming soon).
Like other AI chatbots, Bard is designed for conversation, meaning users interact with it by typing a query or request in a text box, and then the AI— in this case, Google Bard—will respond in a conversational tone.
2- Can you fully rely on the accuracy of Google Bard's information?
Be sure to verify the information provided by Bard. Google used an example in a demonstration where it asked Bard, "What are the new discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope that I can tell my 9-year-old?" Unfortunately, it received an embarrassingly incorrect answer.
Currently, Google Bard's prompts are primarily text-based, but this will change very soon thanks to PaLM 2's capabilities. This means that eventually, you'll be able to provide the chatbot with images, and it will be able to analyze them. You will be able to make Bard respond to your prompts with images and videos, and ultimately, the chatbot will be able to create entirely new AI-generated images thanks to Adobe Firefly integration.
These features were announced by Google in 2023 and are expected to roll out in the coming months. This comes alongside a wave of significant AI upgrades from Google, including a virtual experience using enhanced Google Lens capabilities and Immersive View, which allows you to explore various cities around the world virtually.
3- What can you do with GOOGLE BARD?
Currently, we don't know everything Bard can do. But according to Bard itself, the chatbot can generate text, translate languages, write different types of creative content, and answer your questions "informatively." It can also write and debug code in various programming languages.
When you're not satisfied with the answers, you can click "Google it" and go to Google search for more information. This feature has recently given the program a significant boost, allowing you to get an increasing number of search options based on your prompt if you want to explore further.
Additionally, there is growing evidence that Google has big plans for Bard's future. In recent weeks, Google has hinted that Bard will start invading your text messages or begin screening your calls on Pixel phones. They've also integrated generative AI into Google search after Bard's AI success, so even if Bard isn't directly integrated into Google products, the AI features it's testing could become the next great Google application.
Some updates to the new experience have already begun rolling out. Google Bard can now respond using images to add context to text responses, and after testing Bard's new image capabilities, we came away relatively impressed. We also tested the new export to spreadsheets feature, and while it has some minor issues, it saves a lot of time.
4- Does GOOGLE BARD steal content?
Content theft is one of the issues with AI chatbots, not just BARD, so be cautious when using the AI chatbot for research. Intellectual property theft is no joke, and with growing concerns about content theft, the likelihood of governments doing something about it has increased.
As mentioned earlier, Bard can certainly make mistakes, as demonstrated in the initial showcase, and further testing has also seen it continue to misunderstand some things.
Another thing is that Google Bard falls short in providing sources for the information it mentions. While the new Bing chatbot powered by GPT-4 also makes mistakes, at least it gives you the links from where the information comes (sources). Google has tried to address this issue by stating that recent Bard updates will ensure it cites sources more frequently and accurately.
Literary content theft isn't the only problem for AI; fake images generated by AI are a serious issue as well, and Google Bard's AI capabilities to generate images thanks to Adobe Firefly could be a key factor in exacerbating the problem. However, Google makes it easier to detect these fake images using Fact Check Explorer, a feature that has been in Google for a few years but has evolved to the point where you can upload images to check if they are fake.
5- Is Google Bard free?
Currently, Bard is free. It would be surprising if Google charged for the release, as it doesn't charge for Google search. However, given that ChatGPT Plus is a subscription service from Microsoft powered by OpenAI, anything is possible.
Comparison between GOOGLE BARD and ChatGPT
ChatGPT is more than just a chatbot. It's a platform integrated into everything from the new Bing to a range of plugins for websites, including Instacart, OpenTable, and Expedia.
ChatGPT now has an official app! Currently limited to iOS users in the United States, but access is expected to expand to other countries soon, along with the official Android app.
Bard is currently in testing, but this is changing. With the shift to PaLM 2, Bard is now leaning towards multimedia functionalities, just like GPT-4. Google has also announced Bard extensions, allowing other applications to integrate into Bard, from Gmail to Adobe Firefly.
In terms of response quality, we conducted a face-off between Bing and Google Bard to see which AI chatbots are smarter across a wide range of topics. Interestingly, it turned out to be a tie, but we love how Bard often provided more context and detail in its responses.
Conclusion
Google has also developed other AI services that have not yet been released to the public. Google typically treads lightly when it comes to AI products and does not release them until it is confident in the product's performance. For example, Google has developed the AI image generator, Imagen, which could be a great alternative to OpenAI's DALL-E when released.
In this article, we discussed Google Bard, a competitor to ChatGPT, and highlighted the six key pieces of information about it. We learned what Google Bard is, what you can do with GOOGLE BARD, whether GOOGLE BARD actually steals content, and clarified that Google Bard is free. Finally, we compared both GOOGLE BARD and ChatGPT, hoping to have provided all the information about this amazing release.
