TL;DR:
- Google’s AI chatbot Bard is now available to users in more than 180 countries, including Australia.
- Bard is built on Google’s Large Language Model, PaLM2, and offers features like information provision, code writing, language translation, and image analysis.
- Bard will soon provide visual responses in addition to text-based ones, allowing users to upload images for analysis.
- To combat AI hallucinations, Bard will indicate when information is obtained from external sources and provide links for verification.
- Google plans to expand Bard’s language support to over 40 languages.
- Bard will be integrated into Gmail, Docs, Drive, Maps, and other Google products through Duet AI, ensuring user privacy and control.
- Google’s AI models will include watermarking and metadata to indicate AI-generated content.
- Future search advancements include AI-generated text results with links and an “about this image” feature for contextual information.
- Google’s experimental AI video subbing service, the universal translator, is limited to authorized partners due to the risk of misuse.
Main AI News:
Google’s AI chatbot Bard made its debut in Australia, demonstrating the company’s advancements in artificial intelligence and commitment to ethical implementation. Previously available only in the US and the UK, Google announced at its annual I/O conference that Bard would be accessible to users in over 180 countries, including Australia.
Bard, akin to OpenAI’s GPT-powered ChatGPT, is a chat program built on Google’s PaLM2, their Large Language Model. This powerful AI system is capable of providing information, coding assistance, language translation, and image analysis.
In an exciting development outlined by Google, Bard’s future updates will include visual responses alongside text-based ones. By leveraging Google’s Lens application, users will soon be able to upload images for analysis by Bard. For instance, Google provided an example of uploading a photo featuring two dogs with a prompt to generate a funny caption. Bard can identify the breed of the dogs and craft appropriate reactions.
To address the concern of AI-generated misinformation, known as AI hallucinations, Bard will explicitly mention when it draws information from external sources and provide relevant links for further verification.
Furthermore, Google is actively working on expanding Bard’s language support to over 40 languages. Currently, the chatbot is available in English, Japanese, and Korean. Google’s cautious approach to language expansion is due to concerns regarding the system’s potential to perpetuate harmful language, as indicated by preliminary research conducted on PaLM2.
Looking ahead, Google plans to integrate Bard into various products such as Gmail, Docs, Drive, Maps, and more. This integration, known as Duet AI, will enable users to receive assistance with writing and other tasks seamlessly within the applications. However, Google emphasizes that users will retain control over their privacy and how these tools are integrated into the products.
As part of their commitment to ethical AI development, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced that all AI models by Google would incorporate watermarking and metadata. These features aim to inform users that the content they encounter is generated by AI.
Moving beyond search, Google envisions AI-generated text results accompanied by relevant links. Additionally, they plan to introduce an “about this image” feature in search results, offering contextual information for images that have appeared elsewhere. This improvement will enhance the user’s understanding of the image’s background and context.
While Google continues to innovate, they exercise caution in granting access to its experimental AI video subbing service, the universal translator. Limited to authorized partners, this service translates the speaker’s voice and synchronizes it with their lip movements. Although recognized for its vast potential, Google acknowledges the high risk of misuse by malicious actors.
Conlcusion:
The availability and expansion of Google’s AI chatbot Bard to a global audience, along with its diverse range of features, signify a significant development in the market. With the integration of visual responses and the ability to analyze images, Bard opens up new possibilities for businesses to engage with customers and enhance their interactions. The commitment to ethical AI practices, including transparency regarding information sources and privacy control, ensures that businesses can leverage Bard’s capabilities responsibly.
Furthermore, future advancements in language support and search results provide opportunities for businesses to reach a wider audience and deliver more personalized experiences. Overall, the introduction of Bard represents a transformative milestone in the market, empowering businesses to leverage AI technology effectively and responsibly to drive innovation and customer satisfaction.
