Google I/O 2023, the company’s annual developer conference, highlighted the latest AI technology, and Google Bard was at the forefront of the event. Google’s AI chatbot has received major updates that aim to propel it beyond its mediocre launch and muted reception. Sissie Hsio, the Vice President and General Manager for Google Assistant and Bard, unveiled several serious upgrades to Bard that will bring it in line with ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Bing AI Chat and even surpass them in some cases.
The most significant changes coming to Bard are its ability to generate AI images and use images for searches. The AI image generation feature via Bard’s integration with Adobe Firefly allows users to generate images using Bard in a way that mirrors the best AI art generators. Bard can also take in images that users upload, provide descriptions of them, and answer prompts with images from the web. Additionally, Bard can utilize Google Lens to upload images and come up with text responses that match the user’s needs.
Bard has also become a coding genius, with the ability to create functions in 20+ programming languages, add comments to explain code, and even cite where the code comes from, linking back to Github. Bard’s new export feature is also incredibly useful, allowing users to export long-form responses directly into Gmail or Google Docs, making collaborative work smooth and succinct.
The addition of new map options that work with Google Maps takes planning with Bard to a whole new level. Users can visualize locations, restaurants, and attractions on a map and plan an entire trip within a single chat. Moreover, Google Bard is now available to everyone and is accessible in over 180 countries and territories.
Finally, Bard will now operate in ‘Dark Mode,’ making it easier on the eyes, particularly for those staring at screens all day. Overall, Google Bard’s updates place it as a genuine contender in the AI chatbot stakes.
In conclusion, Google Bard’s major updates provide exciting and practical features that could surpass other AI-powered chatbots. Google has indeed taken its time getting up to speed in the AI race, but it has demonstrated with the new and improved Bard that it is a strong contender. It’s not surprising that we’ll be trying out all the new features very soon, so expect an update to our Google Bard vs Microsoft Bing AI head-to-head in the near future.
