Google Bard gets new features to compete with ChatGPT's popularity

• Image Credit: Google

• Sep 19, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Bard is introducing a feature allowing users to invite others into their conversations, fostering collaboration and...

Digital Desk: In a bid to compete with the rapidly growing popularity of ChatGPT, Alphabet's Google announced on Tuesday a significant update to its generative artificial intelligence, Bard. This update equips Bard with the ability to fact-check its responses and analyze users' personal Google data. The move comes after ChatGPT, developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI, gained immense traction upon its release, becoming one of the top 30 websites globally.

While ChatGPT soared to popularity, Bard has lagged behind, receiving only 13 percent of the visits compared to its rival in August, according to Similarweb, a website analytics firm.

To close the gap, Google is introducing "Bard Extensions." These extensions enable users to seamlessly import their data from various Google products. For instance, Bard users can instruct the AI to search their Google Drive files or provide summaries of their Gmail inboxes. Initially, Bard will only support Google apps, but Google is actively collaborating with external companies to expand Bard's integration capabilities, said Google's senior product director, Jack Krawczyk.

One key focus of the Bard update is addressing the issue of inaccurate responses or "hallucinations" often associated with generative AI. Users will now have the ability to compare Bard's responses with actual Google search results, enhancing transparency and trust in the AI. Krawczyk emphasized that Bard will openly admit when it lacks confidence in its responses.

Furthermore, Bard is introducing a feature allowing users to invite others into their conversations, fostering collaboration and expanding the AI's utility in group settings.

Google's commitment to improving Bard's functionality and accountability demonstrates the company's determination to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving field of generative AI. As the battle for supremacy in this space continues, users can look forward to enhanced features and capabilities in both Bard and ChatGPT.