It was only a matter of time: through a press release, the Web giant wanted to show that it was also going to invest in the field of generative AI for its search engine. But Google is a bit apprehensive: while ChatGPT is freely available, “Bard” is currently reserved for “trusted testers”.
Google’s answer to ChatGPT has a name: Bard. In a press release, widely reported by the press, the Web giant revealed the existence of its chatbot House. Title ” a major step in our progress in AI », the note does not fear the emphasis. It must be said that there is fire: faced with the relevance and success of the bot of OpenAI, Google has sounded the alarm, even calling Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the company’s founders, to the rescue. We had to respond quickly to the threat.
We would have loved to attend the meetings that led to the note that introduces Bard, published -a rare thing- by Sundar Pichai himself. The CEO of Google, who, between hollow assertions (“ AI is the most promising technology we are working on today”) and somewhat futile examples of use (see below), above all shows the urgency that presided over this announcement.
An AI built on LaMDA
Bard relies on LaMDA, a powerful language model that Google presented a long time ago – this dates back to Google I/O 2021 – but which it had never dared, until now, to open up to the world. audience. Google announces that it will ” in the coming weeks “. In the meantime, the chatbot will be reserved for “trust testers” (sic). It will also be powered by a “lite version” of LaMDA, a more modest model that “requires less computing power, allows us to deploy to more users, and process a larger volume of feedback.”
Without ever citing ChatGPT, Pichai distills all the same in his post what distinguishes his bot from that of OpenAI. ” Bard’s ambition is to combine the breadth of knowledge of the world with the power, intelligence and creativity of our great language models. It draws on information from the web to provide up-to-date, high-quality answers” can we read. A direct “sting” at ChatGPT, which is currently confined to a frozen mass of information, while Bard would have real-time access to fresh content.
However, we do not know exactly what the extent of Bard’s capabilities will be, nor in what form this robot will be offered to us: directly in the search pages? In the form of an app? Integrated with Assistant? Hard to say for now. However, Google gives examples of the use of its new robot, through a few captures and animated GIFs, with an interface that mimics that of its search engine.
For example, you could ask Bard: “ Between the piano and the guitar, which is easier to learn, and how long does each one take to practice? » in order to obtain a response constructed in natural language. Here is the translation, published in the press release:
“Some say the piano is easier to learn because finger and hand movements are more natural, and learning and memorizing notes can be easier.
Others say it’s easier to learn chords on the guitar and you could learn a pattern in a few hours.
Music teachers often recommend that beginners practice at least an hour a day. To reach an intermediate level, it generally takes 3 to 6 months of regular practice for the guitar and 6 to 18 months for the piano. »*
2/ Bard seeks to combine the breadth of the world’s knowledge with the power, intelligence, and creativity of our large language models. It draws on information from the web to provide fresh, high-quality responses. Today we’re opening Bard up to trusted external testers. pic.twitter.com/QPy5BcERd6
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) February 6, 2023
Other examples, which refer to the planning of a baby shower, recipes made from ingredients in your fridge or recent discoveries from the James Webb telescope are also highlighted.
Pandora’s box ?
With Bard, however, Google opens Pandora’s box. Because, as some experts like Yann LeCun have rightly pointed out, these generative artificial intelligences are also capable of the worst, or at least of a certain “anything”. Beyond the innocuous examples cited above, Google’s chatbot could indeed imagine problematic, false or shocking answers to countless political, philosophical, religious or social questions. So many complex subjects that Google wants to answer in a “daring, but responsible”. We shouldn’t make a mistake, because Google’s reputation, but also its economic model, could be at stake. One thing is certain: Bard’s mysterious “trust testers” have their work cut out for them…
* We made the exact same request to ChatGPT, here is its response:
“The level of difficulty in learning piano or guitar depends on the individual talent and motivation of the student. Some people may find the piano easier to learn, while others may find the guitar more accessible.
In terms of time, learning the guitar can usually be quicker at first, as the basics can be picked up in a few weeks to a few months of regular practice. However, reaching an advanced level of skill on the guitar can take years of determined practice.
For the piano, although learning the basics may take a little longer than for the guitar, it can provide a more solid musical foundation. To become a proficient piano player usually takes several years of daily practice.
Ultimately, the time it takes to learn piano or guitar depends on the student’s goal and level of dedication. »
