What is what is Google Bard? Here's everything you need to know

Here's everything you need to know After the success of OpenAI's ChatGPT software, Google decided to release its own version, Bard. Unlike ChatGPT, the start of Google's AI chat service was difficult.

What is Google Bard?

Bard is Google's AI chat and chat demo service. It is supposed to work similarly to ChatGPT, with the biggest difference being that Google's service will pull all its information from the web.

When was Google Bard announced?

Bard was revealed on February 6 in a statement from Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. Although Bard was a completely new concept in the ad, the AI chat service is powered by the Google Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA), which was unveiled two years ago.

How does Google Bard work?

LaMDA is built on Transformer, the neural network architecture from Google that it invented and opened the source in 2017. Interestingly, GPT-3, the language model that ChatGPT runs on, was also built on Transformer, according to Google.

Also: Google's Bard relies on the controversial LaMDA robot dubbed by the engineer "Sensitive"

The initial version of the Bard will use a lightweight prototype version of LaMDA, as it requires less computing power and can be scaled up to more users, depending on the version. In addition to LaMDA, Bard will rely on all information from the web to provide responses. Pichai said pulling out of the web would provide "new high-quality responses."

Who has access to Google Bard?

Google Bard has not yet been released to the public. The tech giant is currently testing Bard with a small group of "trusted testers," according to Pichai. Internal and external test feedback will be taken into account to ensure that the service is ready for release to the public and complies with Google's AI Liability Standards. Google said Bard will be publicly available in the weeks following the Feb. 6 announcement.

What is the controversy surrounding Google Bard?

Google's Bard made a rough launch, with a Bard demo offering inaccurate information about the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). To launch the AI service, Google tweeted an AI chat service demo where I read the instant message, "What new discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope can I tell my 9-year-old about?".

People soon noticed that the output response was factually incorrect. As reported by ZDNET correspondent Stephanie Condon, the first image of an exoplanet was taken in 2004 by the European Southern Observatory's VLT (Very Large Telescope).

Also: I asked ChatGPT to write a WordPress plugin that I needed. I did it in less than 5 minutes

A Google spokesperson told ZDNET in a statement: "This highlights the importance of a rigorous testing process, something we are starting this week through the Trusted Tester program."

Before Bard's release, Google's LaMDA was also under fire. As reported by ZDNET reporter Tiernan Ray, shortly after LaMDA was published, former Google engineer Blake Lemoine released a document in which he shared that LaMDA may be "conscious." That controversy faded after Google denied it and placed Lemoine on paid administrative leave before being allowed out of the company.

Why did Google decide to reveal Google Bard now?

ChatGPT has been a huge success since its release. In less than a week after launch, ChatGPT had over a million users. According to an analysis by Swiss bank UBS, ChatGPT is the fastest growing app ever. Because of this success, other tech companies, including Google, are trying to get into space while the weather is hot.

That same week, Google unveiled Bard, Microsoft unveiled a new AI-enhanced Bing, which runs on the next generation of a large OpenAI language model dedicated to search.

What other AI services does Google have?

Google has developed other artificial intelligence services that have not yet been released to the public. The tech giant usually deals lightly when it comes to AI products and doesn't export them until it trusts the performance of the product.

For example, Google has developed an AI image generator, Imagen, which can be a great alternative to OpenAI's DALL-E when released. Google also has an AI music generator, MusicLM, which Google says it has no plans to release at this point.

Also: ChatGPT can't create music, but Google's new AI model can.

In a recent paper discussing MusicLM, Google recognizes the danger these types of models can pose to the misappropriation of creative content and the biases inherent in training that can affect underrepresented cultures in training, as well as fears of cultural appropriation.