In February 2023, Microsoft introduced a new version of Bing that integrates with the popular chatbot from OpenAI, ChatGPT, to provide a new search experience with more human conversational answers instead of links ranked by relevance using AI.
However, this new version of Bing raised a few questions. For example, is Bing using the same ChatGPT version available from OpenAI? And how are these chatbots different?
Bing AI ChatGPT vs. OpenAI ChatGPT
In a nutshell, the new Bing AI uses the same ChatGPT technology, but this is a more advanced version with various modifications to make it suitable for search and the general public.
Bing uses ChatGPT version 4, but this variant is more capable, accurate, and capable than the version of ChatGPT that you can use in OpenAI.
The biggest difference between Bing AI ChatGPT and OpenAI ChatGPT is that the version of Bing leverages the Prometheus technology to connect the chatbot with the Microsoft search engine to provide more accurate answers and offer responses to current events. Also, the technology allows the integration of citations into sentences that sources the content, allowing the user to verify the information and, at the same time, send traffic to the sources for a healthy internet ecosystem.
On the other hand, the version available through OpenAI doesn’t have access to the internet to answer questions. Instead, it uses a predefined pool of data to respond to queries. ChatGPT’s knowledge is still limited to 2021 data at the time of this writing, which means it can’t answer current questions.
Also, the ChatGPT version available through Bing has far more control over the version available from OpenAI. This means that while the version on Bing is more powerful, you have more limitations than the chatbot from OpenAI.
For example, if you ask Bing AI to write a cover letter for you, it won’t write the letter. Instead, it will give you tips to write the letter yourself.
On the other hand, if you ask the chatbot from OpenAI, you are likely to get a cover letter, but anyone may be able to determine you didn’t write the letter.
In addition, ChatGPT on Bing has many more safeguards to protect users and prevent the misuse of the technology. ChatGPT also has its protections but is not as restrictive as Bing.
Another difference between Bing and OpenAI is that while both services are free, the chatbot experience from OpenAI is limited to a few queries per day, and you have to consider the ChatGPT Plus subscription to have unlimited access with priority, faster responses, and without window restrictions. Bing AI is meant to be a free service to complement the traditional search experience.
One thing these platforms have in common is that they can always provide inaccurate and wrong answers, so it’s crucial always to double-check the information.
Bing AI is available now, but you must sign up to get early access. Initially, the waiting took many days, but Microsoft is proactively working to expand access to more users. You can now even use Bing’s version of ChatGPT on mobile and Skype.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].