Bard-on Me? Google Joins the AI Chatbot Bandwagon With ‘Bard’
Oh, how the tables have turned! OpenAI’s ChatGPT has been making waves in the world of AI, and now other platforms are scrambling to catch up.
Remember when people around the globe started worrying that Google would penalise AI-generated content? Well, guess who’s got their own AI chatbot now? That’s right, Google’s answer to ChatGPT is none other than Bard, their very own conversational AI.
It seems the undeniable benefits of AI, like reducing costs, increasing productivity, and delivering better customer experience, have made even the mighty Google reconsider their stance to be more adaptable for the changing times. So, here we are, witnessing an AI chatbot showdown between Google Bard and ChatGPT – and we’re all in for the ride!
What is Bard?
Google Bard is an AI chatbot powered by a large language model called Language Model for Dialogue Applications, or LaMDA for short. This bad boy can take your prompts and whip up text-based tasks like nobody’s business, from dishing out answers to crafting content. You can even use it to summarise large amounts of information to save yourself from putting all the time in yourself.
Relying on natural language processing and machine learning, Google Bard aims to churn out real-time responses like a pro. Need to fire off a convincing email to snag that refund? Bard’s got your back. Planning an epic trip for six to Spain? Let Bard handle the details.
How to Get Bard
Eager to get your hands on Google Bard? Hold your horses – access is still waitlist-only. But don’t fret, here’s the lowdown on how to join the Bard club.
Let’s kick things off with the basics – you’ll need a personal Google account and be 18 or older. In terms of the technical stuff, you’ll need to make sure you’re using a supported web browser like Chrome, Chromium-based Edge, Firefox, Opera, or Safari.
Once you’re ready, you can sign into your Google account and cruise on over to bard.google.com using your phone, tablet, or computer. Hit that blue “Join waitlist” button and give a “Yes, I’m in” to confirm your spot. There’s no need to opt into those email updates (unless you’re into that kinda thing). Just sit back, relax, and wait for that glorious email from Google granting you access to Bard.
Those of us here in New Zealand are going to have to wait a little bit longer to join the waitlist though, as access is currently limited to U.K. and U.S. residents. Some things in life really aren’t fair, if you ask us!
Using Google Bard
So, you’ve finally received an email saying you’ve been granted access to Google Bard..now what?
The first thing you need to do is simply click the blue “Take it for a spin” button in the email or head over to bard.google.com. When you’re using Bard for the first time, you’ll also need to agree to Google’s terms and privacy policy.
At this point, you’re all set to ask Bard anything your heart desires! Don’t know what to ask? No worries—there are some preselected questions you can pick from. After asking your question, you’ll see three different drafts or alternative answers, for you to pick which one is the cream of the crop.
If the responses aren’t quite what you were looking for, you can scroll down and give the thumbs down button a click to show your disapproval. If you like it, give it a thumbs up! After getting to know your preferences better, Bard’s responses will ideally get better over time to suit your unique needs.
Want to learn more about the subject? Hit the “Google it” button for related questions. Need to copy the response? The three-dot menu button on the bottom-right corner has you covered. And if you need to tweak your question, just hit the edit button in the top-right corner.
Google Bard vs. ChatGPT
Who doesn’t love a good digital showdown? Here, we highlight some key differences between Google Bard and ChatGPT.
Language Model
The latest model of ChatGPT uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 architecture – its most capable yet in terms of reasoning and memory. On the other hand, Bard is fueled by LaMDA, another heavyweight in the large language model world. Both models harness natural language processing and machine learning to dish out real-time responses, but they’ve got their unique flavours, so you’ll probably want to test-drive both to find your AI soulmate.
Data Sources
ChatGPT initially gathered all its data from a huge collection of text like Common Crawl, Wikipedia, books, articles, and loads of online content. However, the information it learnt from only goes up to 2021, so it’s a bit behind on current events and new research.
Bard, on the other hand, was trained on Infiniset, which includes things like Common Crawl, Wikipedia, documents, and even online chats and discussions. The cool thing about Bard is that it apparently can search the web in real-time to find the freshest answers and latest research for your questions.
Technology is always improving though – and the folks at OpenAI epitomise that. With recent additions of Plugins, ChatGPT can now access the internet, helping to ease concerns about misinformation in responses.
Regardless of whether you use ChatGPT or Bard though, it’s always recommended to check your facts before hitting ‘send’ or ‘publish’. Like humans, machines can make mistakes too!
Availability
If using AI chatbots was dating, it’s clear that Bard is playing hard-to-get! Although Google announced Bard a whole month ago (which, these days, can feel like an eternity!), it is currently in waitlist-only status – and only for U.K. and U.S. residents. So, if you want in, you’ll need to join the waitlist and cross your fingers.
On the other hand, ChatGPT has already put itself out there, ready to mingle and make your digital life easier. It’s worth pointing out that the latest GPT-4 model is only available for users paying a $20 USD Plus monthly subscription fee. But for those of us who don’t want to fork over the cash just yet, we can still access the GPT 3.5 version easily.
Demand
Google has kept its lips pretty sealed regarding how many people have joined the waitlist for access to Bard.
Considering GPT-4’s usage cap has already decreased from 100 messages every 4 hours to 25 every 3, it’s safe to say its demand is pretty damn high. So high, in fact, that ChatGPT experienced a major outage just last week, sending users into panic (and maybe even despair) all around the world. That’s how much of an impact ChatGPT has on us, and it shows no sign of changing.
Bear in mind that when Bard becomes accessible to everyone, it’s anticipated that its popularity will surge, giving ChatGPT a run for its money!
How Does Google Bard Impact SEO?
By now, you might be wondering how Bard interacts with SEO.
It’s all about making conversations with AI more natural and informative, and it’s got some serious potential to shake up the world of SEO. Bard is designed to work with (rather than against) Google’s search tools, which means it’s going to have a huge impact on how people find information online. We’re talking about content that’s going to be more engaging, more conversational, and all-around more helpful for users.
At the end of the day, Bard is all about changing the way we interact with search engines, making it more like having a chat with a knowledgeable friend.
Keeping Up With SEO in the Age of AI Chatbots
AI chatbots like Bard are changing the SEO game as we speak, and that means marketers and business owners need to stay on their toes and be ready to adapt.
Let’s be real though; keeping up with the SEO game and all its twists and turns can be a major challenge.
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