Google Launches "Bard" an AI Based Language Model Similar to ChatGPT
Could Google's unique approach to AI give Bard the competitive edge over OpenAI's ChatGPT?
Given the world-renowned success of ChatGPT, it's not unexpected that competitors would emerge to challenge the AI-powered language model. It's not surprising either that one of these competitors would be Google, a global leader in data aggregation and a power player in the AI space.
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai announced yesterday (Feb 6) that Google will be launching Bard, saying “We’ve been working on an experimental conversational AI service, powered by LaMDA, that we’re calling Bard. And today, we’re taking another step forward by opening it up to trusted testers ahead of making it more widely available to the public in the coming weeks”. He continues “Bard seeks to combine the breadth of the world’s knowledge with the power, intelligence and creativity of our large language models. It draws on information from the web to provide fresh, high-quality responses.”
For context, LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications) is a similar language model developed by Google AI, which is capable of generating human-like text based on a prompt. Unlike previous language models such as GPT-3, which were trained to predict the next word in a sentence. LaMDA is designed specifically for dialogue based applications and can be used “to generate coherent and diverse answers to questions, generate stories and poems, translate languages, and much more.”
There are a few interesting innovations with Bard in comparison to ChatGPT:
Scalability - Google released Bard with a lightweight model version of LaMDA - boasting a compact model that requires minimal computing power. This optimized architecture will allow them to cater to a wider user base and gather more insightful feedback. This will also eliminate the issue of server overload, which has plagued ChatGPT since launch day. With their existing AI technologies, Google also said they’re preparing to release versions of Bard capable of analyzing and communicating with images, video and audio.
Integration - Google intends to blend Bard's responses into your search results. By doing so, whenever you search something, a "Bard’s answer" will promptly be displayed as the top result. You will then have the option to engage in a chat with Bard or simply find your answers as you normally would with a Google search. This move by Google highlights their understanding of the simplicity of using Bard compared to the multiple steps required to find your answers using ChatGPT.
Training - One of the main issues facing ChatGPT is the fact that OpenAI’s training data set cuts off at 2021. Meaning, anyone with questions pertaining to something current, will not be able to get an answer. Google on the other hand, will train Bard against their ever growing dataset; one of the largest in the world. This will effectively allow Bard to answer questions about real time issues and advancements.
Application - Google has always demonstrated its commitment to making its software accessible to an ever growing developer community, albeit with the aim of building a more comprehensive data set of personal data. They have no intention of diverging from this mindset with Bard. Pichai said in a statement:
“Beyond our own products, we think it’s important to make it easy, safe and scalable for others to benefit from these advances by building on top of our best models. Next month, we’ll start onboarding individual developers, creators and enterprises so they can try our Generative Language API, with a range of models to follow.”
This really encapsulates the innovative beauty and power of Google. Their open-source philosophy might give them an edge over OpenAI when it comes to these language models. Google's ultimate ambition is to establish a thriving platform for developers to push the boundaries of AI. By providing developers with access to cutting-edge technology, they aim to foster an environment of innovation and progress, allowing for continued advancements in the field.
Although Bard and ChatGPT remain the two dominant players in the AI language modeling space, new companies are emerging with pace as the popularity of these technologies continues to grow. In the two months after ChatGPT's launch, many tech companies have doubled down on generative AI technology, while a number of startups are independently working on their own projects. The most notable competitor is Ernie; China’s recent language model attempt. We’ll keep a close eye on Ernie moving forward.
Additionally, as Bard becomes more consumer facing, Safe<br>Space will be sure to keep you updated on the war being waged for AI supremacy and the ways in which these technologies will puncture our daily lives. For now, get your popcorn ready because this is one show you will certainly not want to miss.