Bard is Google’s new conversational AI chatbot that will compete with the Bing experience with ChatGPT integration. Similar to ChatGPT from OpenAI, Bard is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that uses natural language to provide more human conversational answers to complex questions.
The chatbot uses the Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA) developed by Google and machine learning technology to analyze large text datasets and predicts the word that comes next to the other one, which provides the skills for the AI to produce more human responses, similar to GPT-4.
This guide will briefly explain what the Copilot is and how it works.
What’s Google Bard?
Bard is a conversational AI chatbot from Google built using the Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA) and machine learning that you can use to get answers to complex questions using natural language instead of typing a search query to see a list of results that may or may not include an answer like we’re used to with search engines.
However, the new chatbot from Google is the same as other chatbots, meaning it will not always provide the correct answer. For this and other reasons, the company says that Bard is not a search engine replacement. Instead, it’s a complement to search to brainstorm ideas, create drafts, or play around. As a result, it’s always recommended to check the facts of the information.
Google Bard is available now as a limited preview for users in the United States and the United Kingdom. You can sign up for the waitlist with these instructions, but it’s unclear how long the wait will be since the company notes that this will be a slow rollout.
Initially, Bard will use a light version of the technology that requires less computing power than the full version. As a result, at least in the preview stage, you won’t be able to take full advantage of the chatbot.
Furthermore, in addition to search, the company plans to keep bringing AI to many of its products, including Maps, Translate, Lens, and more.
How does Google Bard work?
Also, similar to the Bing Chat AI, Google’s conversational AI offers a minimalist interface with a text box with rounded corners to ask questions on any topic using text or voice.
One difference about Bard is that it doesn’t write down the answer in real-time or show you the process. Instead, you will see Bard thinking with an animated icon, and then you will see the complete response.
In the response, you can help train the chatbot by using the thumbs-up or down buttons. You will also get the “Regenerate” button to ask the same question again. Alternatively, you can click the “Google it” button for a regular search instead.
Furthermore, the chatbot features a “drafts” option that allows you to choose from different answer variations. For example, this feature will come in handy if you ask a question that displays a paragraph of text, and from the drafts, you can pick to view the answer in bullet points.
Google hasn’t mentioned unwanted behaviors after asking a number of additional questions. However, Bard does come with a “Reset chat” button from the left navigation pane to terminate and start a new chat session.
In the navigation pane on the left, you can also access the “Bard Activity,” which allows seeing a history of your searches that you can delete at any time. However, you cannot view the same response from your previous activities again.
Google Bard uses its knowledge and content from the web to answer questions, but unlike Bing Chat, you usually won’t see citations sourcing the content. In some cases, the experience will show a “Sources” footnote with links to the website containing the information source.
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].