Google has developed an AI-powered chatbot tool tool named Google Bard, which utilizes natural language processing and machine learning to imitate human conversations. Apart from being a supplement to Google search, Bard can also be incorporated into websites, messaging platforms or applications, delivering genuine and natural language responses to users’ queries.
Content Overview
Bard uses Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA) as its model, which according to Google’s Bard FAQ page has been fed trillions of words so that it can predict reasonable responses and maintain a conversation.
The article discusses the release of Google’s experimental AI-powered chatbot, Google Bard, which was launched amidst the hype surrounding ChatGPT. The article ponders whether Google Bard was created as a response to ChatGPT or if it was already in development.
ChatGPT’s Rival: Google AI Bard
Considering the widespread popularity of ChatGPT, it was anticipated that Google would be making significant efforts to come up with a competing product. And Bard appears to be its first shot at OpenAI’s chatbot. The chatbot was unveiled at a Paris event, but during the event, Bard made a mistake that resulted in Google losing $100 billion in market value.
Google had limited testing of Bard to “trusted testers” and hinted at a public release in the near future. However, on March 21, 2023, Google opened up access to Google Bard for the public to sign up.
How does Google Bard work?
The Google Knowledge Graph is a knowledge base from which Google serves relevant information in an infobox beside its search results. The Knowledge Graph cards provide contextual and pertinent details concerning the user’s search query. Google aims to integrate Bard seamlessly with Knowledge Graph Cards, but Bard is designed to respond to NORA questions, which are questions that don’t have a single correct answer.
Google Bard is developed using Google’s Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA) technology, which is based on Transformer, a neural network architecture released by Google in 2017. Since Transformer was released as an open-source, other generative AI tools have utilized it as a framework, such as the GPT-3 language model utilized in ChatGPT.
Bard’s AI is specifically trained to generate natural-sounding conversational responses to user queries. Rather than simply presenting a list of answers, it contextualizes the responses and is equipped to assist with follow-up questions, marking a new feature in the realm of search.
What is LaMDA?
Two years ago, Google unveiled their Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA).
Google’s language model, LaMDA, is built on Transformer, a neural network architecture that Google Research invented in 2017. It also incorporates multimodal user intent, reinforcement learning, and suggestions.
The model was trained to read and understand words, from sentences to paragraphs. It would then take that understanding and find relations to make predictions on what word it thinks may come next. We can say that LaMDA is a statistical method as it predicts future words based on previous ones. This allows the chatbot to stimulate conversation in a flowing manner, moving from one topic to the next.
The major benefit of LaMDA is that it uses less computing power, allows for scalability, and provides a more effective feedback system, done by Google’s own internal testing.
When was Google Bard released?
On March 21, 2023, Google began opening access to Bard, inviting users to join a waitlist.
Google Bard was first introduced on February 6, 2023, with an unspecified launch date. There is speculation that Google may have felt compelled to expedite Bard’s release due to the success and favorable coverage of ChatGPT. During a live demonstration by Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Bard provided a completely incorrect response to a query. Many believe that it may have been rushed to market before being fully prepared.
In the demo, a user asked Bard the question: “What new discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope can I tell my 9-year-old about?”
In Bard’s response, it mentioned that the JWST “took the very first pictures of a planet outside of our own solar system.” Astronomers took to social media to quickly point out that the first image of an exoplanet was taken by an earthbound observatory in 2004, making Bard’s answer incorrect. The next day, Google lost $100 billion in market value — a decline attributed to the embarrassing mistake.
Who can use Google Bard?
To access Bard, individuals must possess a personal Google account and be at least 18 years old. Currently, Bard is exclusively accessible in the United States and the United Kingdom, but plans to expand to other nations are in the works.
In order to use Bard you’ll want to sign up at bard.google.com and enter your Gmail address. You’ll be notified once you can access Bard. Once you’ve been granted access you can visit bard.google.com once again and try the chatbot.
Is Bard free?
It seems that Bard will be offered for free at the moment. However, it’s uncertain if Google will charge for the consumer version of Bard in the future. While Google does not charge for Google Search, the existence of a subscription service for ChatGPT Plus from Microsoft backed by OpenAI suggests that anything is possible.
Google Bard vs. ChatGPT
Let’s see the distinctions between Google Bard and ChatGPT.
Google Bard and OpenAI’s ChatGPT are both chatbots that utilize natural language models and machine learning to engage with individuals. They both rely on a large language model (LLM) for generating and producing conversational text. Nevertheless, the similarities between the two end there.
ChatGPT uses generative AI, allowing it to generate unique content. For example, users can request it to compose a thesis concerning the benefits of AI. On the other hand, Google Bard has a distinct purpose in attempting to enhance the naturalness and usefulness of search.
