Google announces new Bard features in attempt to catch up with OpenAI’s ChatGPT

Google Bard updates: Alphabet Inc's Google on Tuesday announced that it is upgrading its generative Artificial Intelligence platform, Bard, to incorporate fact-checking capabilities and analyse users' personal Google data. This move comes as Google aims to compete with the growing popularity of ChatGPT, developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI.

Following the release of ChatGPT last year, the tech industry witnessed a surge in the development of generative AI technology to provide consumers with advanced conversational experiences. ChatGPT quickly gained traction and is now among the top 30 websites globally. In contrast, Bard faced slower adoption rates. In August, Bard received 183 million visits, constituting only 13 per cent of ChatGPT's traffic, as reported by website analytics firm Similarweb.

New Bard features announced

To catch up and establish a stronger foothold in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, Google is introducing Bard Extensions, enabling users to import their data from various other Google products. For example, users can instruct Bard to search their files in Google Drive or provide a summary of their Gmail inbox. Initially, Bard will only integrate with Google apps, but Google is collaborating with external companies to expand integration options in the future, stated Google's Senior Product Director Jack Krawczyk.

Addressing a common concern with generative AI, Google is implementing a new feature in Bard to tackle inaccurate responses, often referred to as hallucinations. Users will now have the ability to identify and compare Bard's responses with Google search results, promoting transparency and building trust by acknowledging when Bard is uncertain or differs from search results.

In addition to these updates, Bard will introduce a third feature that allows users to invite others into their Bard conversations, enhancing collaborative interactions within the platform.

(With Reuters inputs)