Google Expands Use of AI Across Platforms with Launch of Rival to Microsoft-Backed ChatGPT
Key Highlights :
Google is taking its use of artificial intelligence to the next level with the launch of Bard, a rival to Microsoft-backed ChatGPT, to 180 countries. The tech giant is looking to supercharge its leading search engine with generative AI, as executives announced at its annual Google developers conference in Silicon Valley. Google is racing to keep up with Microsoft, which has been integrating ChatGPT-like powers into its products, including the Bing search engine.
Google's AI efforts are being carried out in a "bold and responsible" way, according to senior product director Jack Krawczyk. Bard technology will enable features such as filling in text to help draft emails and suggesting ideas for artwork by scrutinizing a picture of available supplies. Google is also letting partners build such extensions, including one from Adobe that will let users generate images.
The company has removed a waitlist for Bard, letting users around the world engage with it in English after months of testing it out in the US and Britain. Bard will be modified to support 40 languages in coming months. Google also announced browser "extensions" that will imbue apps and services such as Gmail and Maps with AI features.
Google's expansion of AI comes despite fears about the technology's potential threat to society, including its impact on the spread of disinformation and whether it could make whole categories of jobs obsolete. A range of experts in March urged a pause in the development of powerful AI systems to allow time to make sure they are safe.
Google's AI advancements come a week after rival Microsoft expanded public access to its generative artificial intelligence programs, which are powered by models made by OpenAI. Microsoft has enhanced its Bing search engine and Edge internet browser with the ability to work with images as well as text, and intends to add video to the mix.
The tech titan also unveiled new Pixel devices including a $1,799 foldable smartphone with a bendable screen that is the size of a tablet computer when opened. Google also added a new tablet and a lower-priced version of its flagship smartphone to the Pixel lineup.
Despite the rollouts by two of the world's biggest companies, risks from AI include its potential uses for disinformation, with voice clones, deep-fake videos and convincing written messages. Google's AI advancements come after prominent computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton, who created some of the technology underlying AI systems, quit his job at Google to speak out about the dangers of the technology.
Google's launch of Bard and its expansion of AI across its platform is a major step forward for the tech giant. The company is looking to keep up with Microsoft and its early investment in OpenAI, as the two tech giants battle it out for market share. While there are risks associated with AI, Google is taking a responsible approach to ensure the technology is used in a safe and secure manner.
