Bard, ChatGPT Set Up Google, Microsoft Battle

Bard¹, ChatGPT Set Up Google, Microsoft Battle

Fast developing artificial intelligence (AI) tools are set to start new competitive² battles between Google and Microsoft.

Google chief Sundar Pichai announced this week his company had developed a new AI-powered chatbot tool. A chatbot is a computer program designed to interact³ with humans in a conversational⁴ way.

The search engine company said it plans to use the new chatbot service, called "Bard," to provide a better online search experience. Google currently⁵ holds more than 80 percent of the worldwide internet search market, the online data company Statista reports.

Bard is one of several recently launched tools that demonstrate major AI development progress in recent years. The tools are built by feeding huge amounts of data into machine learning computer systems. The data trains the AI systems to develop complex skills and produce human-like results.

A free writing tool called ChatGPT was launched by a company called OpenAI late last year. The tool received widespread media attention for being able to produce human-quality written documents very quickly. Technology experts have said such systems have the possibility to greatly change many different industries and professions.

Microsoft recently announced a new, multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI. As part of its partnership⁶, Microsoft provides "supercomputing systems" to OpenAI to support the development of new AI products.

One day after Google confirmed the development of its new Bard chatbot, Microsoft announced plans to redesign its Bing search engine and Edge web browser⁷ with a series of new AI tools.

Technology experts say the two announcements are a clear sign that Google and Microsoft are seeking to compete directly in the online search market as well as other online areas.

In announcing Bard, Google head Pichai said the chatbot will first become available to a group of "trusted testers" before being released widely later this year.

Google says its tool is designed to explain complex subjects such as outer space discoveries in terms simple enough for a child to understand. The company also claims Bard will be able to perform other helpful jobs, such as providing ideas for planning a party or giving meal suggestions based on food available in the home.

In a statement, Pichai said, "Bard seeks to combine the breadth of the world's knowledge with the power, intelligence and creativity of our large language models." He added that including new AI tools in its internet search service will permit the system to break down complex information and provide users with more conversational results.

Pichai has been talking about the importance of AI for the past six years. He noted⁸ that Google had been developing a system called "Language Model for Dialogue Applications," or LaMDA, which will be used to power Bard.

In its announcement, Microsoft said it was combining its ChatGPT technology with its search engine Bing. In explaining the move, the company said the AI tools will create richer online search experiences for its users.

But Microsoft has a long way to go to reach the level of Google's success. Statista estimated that Bing held just nine percent of the worldwide online search market in 2022.

"Think of it as faster, more accurate, more powerful" than ChatGPT, Microsoft official Yusuf Mehdi told The Associated Press.

The new AI-powered Bing was made available to computer users who signed up for it. But Mehdi said the technology will be released to millions of users in the coming weeks. After that, it will be available for smartphones using Bing and Edge. For now, anyone can try a limited number of searches, Mehdi said.

Microsoft chief Satya Nadella said during an event Tuesday that new AI developments are "going to reshape every software category we know."

Nadella also noted the importance of creating AI that recognizes "human preferences and societal norms⁹." That kind of development, he said, cannot be done in a laboratory.

He added: "You have to do that out in the world."

Words in This Story

artificial intelligence – n. the development of computer systems that have the ability to perform work that normally requires human intelligence

conversational – adj. relating to or like a conversation: a talk between two or more people, usually an informal one

accurate – adj. correct or exact

breadth – adj. the great number of different things that someone has done, knows, is interested in

category – n. a group of people or things of a similar kind

preference – n. the feeling of liking¹⁰ something or someone more than another person or thing

societal – adj. relating to or involving society

1 bard   

n.吟游诗人

参考例句：

• I'll use my bard song to help you concentrate!我会用我的吟游诗人歌曲帮你集中精神！
• I find him,the wandering grey bard.我发现了正在徘徊的衰老游唱诗人。

2 competitive   

adj.竞争的，比赛的，好竞争的，有竞争力的

参考例句：

• Some kinds of business are competitive.有些商业是要竞争的。
• These businessmen are both competitive and honourable.这些商人既有竞争性又很诚实。

3 interact   

vi.相互作用，相互影响，互通信息

参考例句：

• All things are interrelated and interact on each other.一切事物互相联系并相互作用。
• The policeman advised the criminal to interact with the police.警察劝罪犯与警方合作。

4 conversational   

adj.对话的，会话的

参考例句：

• The article is written in a conversational style.该文是以对话的形式写成的。
• She values herself on her conversational powers.她常夸耀自己的能言善辩。

5 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

6 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

7 browser   

n.浏览者

参考例句：

• View edits in a web browser.在浏览器中看编辑的效果。
• I think my browser has a list of shareware links.我想在浏览器中会有一系列的共享软件链接。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 norms   

n. 规范 名词norm的复数形式

参考例句：

• deviation from the previously accepted norms 违背事先接受的准则
• Everyone should abide by our social norms. 我们每个人都应该遵守社会行为准则。

10 liking   

n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢

参考例句：

• The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
• I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。