ChatGPT gets serious competition: the first-ever search engine battle has officially started
As AI-powered chatbots are launched by Google, Baidu and a couple others, what can we expect next?
What’s new this week
Say hello to Bard, by Google
Last week, CEO Sundar Pichai informed employees that Google will require their assistance in testing Bard, its ChatGPT competitor. Pichai also mentioned that the company will collaborate with partners to test an API that enables others to access the same underlying technology in the near future
The project is expected to be a priority, “in the spirit of an internal hackathon” and requires meticulous testing to meet “a high bar for quality, safety, and groundedness”. Additionally, Pichai also points out that Google has a well-established history of responsible practices, having been the first company to release a set of AI principles in 2018
The service will roll out to the public in the coming weeks
Brace yourselves, Baidu is coming (in March, hello Ernie Bot)
According to a confidential source, Baidu is set to launch an AI chatbot service in March similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT
The service should initially be a standalone application and gradually integrated into Baidu's search engine. Baidu plans to use the chatbot's capabilities to generate search results instead of just links
In contrast to current Chinese chatbots, which are focused on social interaction, ChatGPT is more effective at professional tasks like programming and essay writing
And they’re not alone…
Because Alibaba says it will launch its own ChatGPT-style tool, which is currently open to employees for testing, the service has been developed by Alibaba DAMO Academy since 2017 and is focused on areas such as artificial intelligence, vision computing, natural language processing, human-machine interactions, and Internet of Things (IoT)
Alibaba could combine the technology with the group’s communication app DingTalk. Alibaba declined to comment
There is no information at the moment about potential features
How does Bard stack up against ChatGPT?
Information on the new tool from the tech giant is limited, as it's only being tested by a chosen few outside testers at the moment. However, we can tell:
Google's new language model, Bard, is designed to use internet-sourced data to offer high-quality responses, in contrast to ChatGPT, which is based on a static data set that stops at the end of 2021
Bard is trained to explain complex subjects in an easy-to-understand way, from outer space discoveries to party planning tips
While it's unclear if Bard will be able to write longer prose like ChatGPT, Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized its importance as a "launchpad for curiosity" and an "outlet for creativity"
Google has not provided pricing information for Bard, but given the company's track record of offering free AI-powered services and tools, it's likely that a free version of the AI chatbot will be available. Similarly, a free version of ChatGPT is also currently offered
Pichai has been a vocal advocate for AI and many analysts see it as a transformative technology on par with personal computers, the internet, and smartphones. To that end, Google is investing in AI advancements such as LaMDA, which powers Bard, and plans to integrate these tools into its search engine
Additionally, Google recently announced a $300 million investment in Anthropic, an AI startup led by former OpenAI leaders. This partnership demonstrates Google's commitment to the field of AI
Weekly quote
Soon, you’ll see AI-powered features in Search that distill complex information and multiple perspectives into easy-to-digest formats, so you can quickly understand the big picture and learn more from the web: whether that’s seeking out additional perspectives, like blogs from people who play both piano and guitar, or going deeper on a related topic, like steps to get started as a beginner
Useful resources of the week
The ChatGPT Post’s own use cases (do you need something specific?)
Maximize Your SEO Efforts with ChatGPT: 20 Proven Strategies for Improved Visibility and Traffic
Maximize Your Job Search Success with ChatGPT: 20 Tips for a Better Career
Laugh of the week
That’s all for this digest, ChatGPT folks!
Feel free to share your feedback, like, and comment below!
If you’re new to ChatGPT, don’t hesitate to visit our beginner’s guide to ChatGPT. You’ll find a quick definition, what you can expect as a professional, limitations, and a few hints on how to write the best prompts.
Greg, good summary. we're inning .001
Woah! The AI search engine battle is getting intense. Who is more likely to win according to you?