Tech behemoth Google has launched its own AI-powered chatbot “Bard” to rival ChatGPT, according to a Feb. 6 statement.
Following the success of ChatGPT, there has been increased interest in artificial intelligence tools. Google is now taking the threat seriously by launching its own AI chatbot.
The company employees previously expressed concerns about Google’s competitive edge in AI, with Microsoft-backed OpenAI now dominating the scene since ChatGPT launched in late 2022.
Employees who spoke anonymously said that the Google chatbot named “Bard” is producing detailed answers similar to ChatGPT. Additionally, another unit tests a new search design with question-and-answer formats.
Google said:
“Bard seeks to combine the breadth of the world’s knowledge with the power, intelligence and creativity of our large language models. It draws on information from the web to provide fresh, high-quality responses.
Why Google is doubling down
An internal memo sighted by CNBC showed that the firm had prioritized developing a ChatGPT-like tool for a while now. While Google is best known for its search engine, the company has long positioned itself as an AI pioneer.
With OpenAI releasing ChatGPT, it has become the poster child for advancements in AI. Not only that, OpenAI is backed by Google’s competitor Microsoft which invested $1 billion into the startup in 2019.
Following the success of ChatGPT, Microsoft is now investing $10 billion into the startup, which will give it access to its AI systems. Microsoft announced that it would integrate ChatGPT into its Bing search engine to improve the product and take from Google’s market share.
Google is launching ChatGPT competitor Bard
Bard is one of the products currently being tested by Google, and it is meant to be a direct competitor to ChatGPT. The product is developed using the Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA).
CNBC reported that Google is testing its beta version against ChatGPT. While they both have a similar interface, Bard can give answers on recent events, something that ChatGPT cannot do yet since it is only current until 2021.
Another comparison tested the two products with “Three women are in a room. Two of them are mothers and have just given birth. Now, the children’s fathers come in. What is the total number of people in the room?”
LaMDA correctly answered the question stating that there were seven people; ChatGPT answered that there would be five people.
However, an internal memo noted that ChatGPT’s coding abilities would get it hired as a Level 3 engineer for a coding position. But it did not state the assessment for its product.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said:
“We’re releasing it initially with our lightweight model version of LaMDA. This much smaller model requires significantly less computing power, enabling us to scale to more users, allowing for more feedback.”
ChatGPT rivals on the rise
Meanwhile, Google is not the only firm building a ChatGPT rival. MetaNews recently reported that Chinese search engine giant Baidu is building a similar product that would be integrated into its website.
Besides these tech giants, other firms like Microsoft and others have also made investments in several other artificial intelligence (AI) products.
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