Alphabet Inc's Google has made its chatbot Bard available to the public, and is seeking feedback to catch up to Microsoft Corp's ChatGPT. The program was previously available to approved testers only. Bard uses generative AI, which relies on past data to create content. Google hopes to reshape how people work and win business in the process, with competitors in the sector such as Microsoft doing the same.
Bard's features and limitations
Bard can produce blocks of text almost instantly and offers users three different versions or "drafts" of any given answer among which they can toggle. It also includes a "Google it" button, should users desire web results for a query. However, accuracy is still a concern and a pop-up notice warns users that Bard will not always get it right. During a demo, Bard was shown to have answered a question incorrectly, highlighting the limitations of the technology. Google is encouraging users to provide feedback so they can be deliberate in their rollout of Bard.
Google's focus on users and productivity
Google is focusing on users, and internal and external testers have turned to Bard for "boosting their productivity, accelerating their ideas, really fueling their curiosity," said Jack Krawczyk, a senior product director. The company is putting draft-writing technology into its word processors and other collaboration software, as well as marketing-related tools for web developers to build their own AI-based applications.
Competitive dynamics between Google and Microsoft
The release of ChatGPT from the Microsoft-backed startup OpenAI last year has caused a race in the technology sector to put AI into more users' hands. Google and Microsoft are both making announcements on AI, with both companies putting draft-writing technology into their collaboration software. However, Google maintains that it is focused on users rather than competition.