You can now test Google Bard, the latest competitor to Bing Chat powered by ChatGPT
Testers can now sign up to use Bard to see how it compares to Bing Chat.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
What you need to know
Google just made the next move in the ongoing AI battle between tech giants. Bard is now available for preview testing.Google announcedthe availability of the AI-powered chatbot and launched a website that allows you toadd your name to the wait list(viaAndroid Central).
Bard will compete with Microsoft’sBing Chatthat’s powered by ChatGPT. Bard uses a “lightweight and optimized version of LaMDA,” which is Google’s language model. The tool is aimed at improving productivity and sparking ideas.
Notably, Google did not position Bard as a replacement to Google Search, as noted byThe Verge. Sissie Hsiao, a VP of product at Google and a Bard lead called the tool a “creative collaborator.” Regarding factual mistakes in responses, Hsiao said, “there’s Google search for that, right?”
Bard blunder costs Google $100 billion>Unlock Bing Chat AI for any web browser>How to sign up for the new Bing-powered by ChatGPT
Google infamously lost $100 billion in market capwhen an advertisement for Bard included a mistake. Google emphasizes in several places that Bard will not always be correct.
The company said the following in its announcementblog post:
“While LLMs are an exciting technology, they’re not without their faults. For instance, because they learn from a wide range of information that reflects real-world biases and stereotypes, those sometimes show up in their outputs. And they can provide inaccurate, misleading or false information while presenting it confidently.”
While AI has been around in some form for quite some time, tools like Bard and Bing Chat represent a new use for the technology. Mistakes are common and there will be growing pains. Microsoft’sBing Chat has shared several errors, though those didn’t draw as much criticism as Bard’s blunder.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
To help handle inaccuracies and inconsistencies, Bard will often show multiple responses to choose from. Follow-up questions can then be used to refine answers further.
Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
