Google's Bard Joins the Chatbot Revolution: Will It Be a Tragedy or a Comedy?

Bard: the chatbot friend you never knew you needed

I don't trust Google.

There. I said it. But the devil you know is the devil you defeat. 

The company that once wanted to digest every document ever produced, like many before it, has become what it railed against in its infancy.  

Big Brother, SkyNet, Colossus, the Modern Prometheus; all of our nightmares, every Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, and X-Files episode home to roost.

Regardless, there are more important things to worry about, like Atmospheric Rivers, Seaweed Blobs, and Chinese Spy Balloons.  

Googles, "writers of satire and eulogies" will flounder as the filters, 'guardrails', and ethics seep into each prompt's response.*  

For now, in March of 2023, the range is free, the west wild.  Enjoy the bliss.

Inspiration, "Google Launches Bard AI Chatbot to Counter ChatGPT", by By Miles Kruppa at the Wall Street Journal. (paywall)

Greg says, "...rewrite the article in a funny, whimsical style to both entertain and inform..."

ChatGPT says, 

Google, the search engine giant, has finally joined the chatbot party! With ChatGPT leading the way, Google has launched Bard, its answer to OpenAI's viral chatbot. This isn't just any chatbot, folks, it's an early experiment designed to respond to written prompts using information sourced from websites like Wikipedia. In other words, it's like having a really smart friend who's always ready to answer your questions, but without pesky human interaction.

While ChatGPT has been dominating the chatbot space for a while, Google isn't one to be left out of the game. The company has been cautious about releasing competing AI products, but it seems like they're finally ready to step up its game. Bard may not be integrated into Google's search engine just yet, but it's available on its own dedicated site, bard.google.com.

According to Sissie Hsiao, a vice president in charge of Google Assistant, Bard can handle follow-up questions in a conversational manner. And if that's not enough to impress you, the AI chatbot can summarize passages and even draft emails! Who needs a personal assistant when you've got Bard?

Google sees Bard as a complement to search, but it's possible that users may end up typing similar prompts into both products. After all, it's hard to resist the temptation of chatting with a smart AI friend. While the financial stakes for Google are high, given its dominance of the search advertising market, Bard is being positioned as a way to provide users with more human-like interactions with technology.

As with any AI model, there are some growing pains. Microsoft recently placed limits on its chatbot after users reported inaccurate answers and odd responses when pushing the app to its limits. 

And while Bard may not be perfect, it's important to remember that it's an early experiment. Google executives have acknowledged that Bard may sometimes produce inaccurate or fabricated information, but hey, nobody's perfect!

So, whether you're looking for a friend to chat with, need a summary of a passage, or want to draft an email, Bard is here to help. Just keep in mind that the chatbot may display inaccurate or offensive information that doesn't represent Google's views. 

But don't worry, Bard's not here to judge – it's just here to help you out.*

_________

Tweet: "Move over ChatGPT, there's a new chatbot in town! Meet Bard, Google's latest AI experiment designed to be your new best friend. #chatbot #AI #Bard"

LinkedIn intro: "Hey everyone, have you ever wished you had a really smart friend who's always ready to answer your questions? Well, Google's got you covered with their latest AI chatbot, Bard! Read on to learn more about this new experiment and what it means for the future of search and AI."

Keyword list: Google, chatbot, AI, Bard, ChatGPT, search, technology, experiment, friend

Image prompt: A cartoon-style illustration of a person typing on their computer or phone, with a cartoon-style chatbot (Bard) popping up next to them, holding a speech bubble that says "How can I help you today?" The person has a surprised or curious expression on their face.

Real song that matches the content: "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai

Search question: "What are some examples of AI chatbots?"

Chat rewrites the writers beginning paragraph:

"I have concerns about trusting Google, given its history and the potential risks of its massive data collection and usage. However, it's important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of using technology and to be aware of the potential consequences. While there may be valid reasons for skepticism, it's also important to prioritize addressing pressing global issues and not get too caught up in the fear of technology."