Google Launches AI Chatbot Bard, But Warns It’s Not a Replacement for Search
Limited Access to Bard Available in the US and UK, but Google Emphasizes Caution and Collaboration with AI
Google is launching Bard, its answer to AI chatbot rivals ChatGPT and Bing. The company is offering limited access to select users in the US and UK, with a waitlist available at bard.google.com, but has warned that the rollout will be slow and emphasized that Bard is not a replacement for its search engine.
Bard, like its competitors, offers users a blank text box and the opportunity to ask questions about any topic. However, given previous issues with chatbots inventing information, Google is cautioning users that Bard is intended to “complement search” rather than replace it. The company describes Bard as an “early experiment” meant to help users boost productivity, accelerate ideas, and fuel curiosity.
Bard Generates Multiple Responses, but Accuracy Is Hit-and-Miss
Bard provides users with three responses to each inquiry, but their content is relatively similar. Each response includes a conspicuous “Google It” button, which takes users to related Google search results. Despite being linked to Google’s search outcomes, obtaining accurate factual information from Bard can be a hit or miss. For instance, when asked about the latest White House press briefing, Bard could only identify the press secretary as Karine Jean-Pierre, failing to provide additional details. In another experiment, Bard delivered three different incorrect responses to a question about the maximum load capacity of a washing machine before ultimately presenting the correct information.
Bard is Faster Than Its Competitors but Lacks Chaotic Energy
Compared to ChatGPT and Bing, Bard is faster but seems generally more constrained in its answers. Microsoft’s Bing drew attention for its tendency to go off-script, with the chatbot sometimes insulting, gaslighting, or flirting with users. However, these outbursts endeared the bot to many and helped underscore the experimental nature of the technology. Bard lacks Bing’s clearly labeled footnotes, and does not appear to have any of its rival’s chaotic energy.
Stress Test Will Reveal Capabilities and Liabilities
As Google expands access to Bard, the system’s capabilities and liabilities will become clearer. One potential attack, jailbreaking, involves inputting queries that override a bot’s safeguards and allow it to generate harmful or dangerous responses. Bard utilizes Google’s advanced AI language model LaMDA, which possesses a greater level of competence than what is apparent through the chatbot’s interface. However, Google needs to determine the extent to which it wants to reveal LaMDA’s potential to the public and the means of doing so.
In the end, the proving of a chatbot is in the chatting, and Google’s collective stress test will better reveal Bard’s strengths and weaknesses. For now, the company is proceeding with caution, emphasizing the need to collaborate with AI rather than rely on it to replace human search.
Conclusion
Google’s new chatbot, Bard, is a promising addition to the world of generative AI. While it has limitations and is not intended to replace Google’s search engine, Bard offers users a new way to collaborate with AI and explore topics of interest. Google has been cautious in its approach to rolling out Bard, with limited access available only to select users in the US and UK, and a slow, controlled rollout. As more users gain access to Bard, its capabilities and limitations will become clearer, and it will be interesting to see how it stacks up against its competitors, ChatGPT and Bing.
While Bard lacks the chaotic energy that made Bing’s chatbot a media sensation, it offers a potentially useful tool for productivity, creativity, and curiosity. However, users should keep in mind that Bard, like all AI chatbots, may display inaccurate or offensive information and should not be relied upon for factual information without verification from an authoritative source. Overall, Bard is a promising step forward in the development of generative AI, and we look forward to seeing how it evolves in the coming months and years.
