Bard now has extensions for various Google services, including Drive, Gmail, YouTube, Maps, and more.
Bard now has extensions for various Google services, including Drive, Gmail, YouTube, Maps, and more.
“Google Bard: A More Savvy and Confident AI Chatbot”
Google Bard, the AI chatbot developed by tech giant Google, is becoming more internet-savvy while also addressing its inaccuracies. In a recent announcement, Google introduced a range of new features for Bard that enhance its capabilities and make it a more reliable resource for users. Let’s dive into these exciting updates and explore how they can enhance your chat conversations.
One of the notable additions to Bard is the introduction of browser extensions for various Google apps. These extensions cover a wide range of platforms such as YouTube, Google Flights, Google Maps, Google Drive, Google Docs, and Gmail. By granting Bard permission to access data from these apps, you can seamlessly integrate their information into your chat conversations.
Additionally, Google has introduced a feature that allows users to double-check Bard’s responses. This feature is accessible by clicking on the “G” icon of the response. By highlighting a specific part of Bard’s response, users can find content that is similar or different from the statements made. It’s important to note that the links provided are not necessarily the sources that informed Bard’s initial response, emphasizing that the inner workings of Bard still have some level of opacity.
The journey for Bard has not been without its challenges. When it was first launched in February, Bard faced criticism due to an inaccurately demonstrated response in the demo video. Leaks within Google confirmed that the launch was rushed, seemingly in response to the success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. However, Google has since made significant improvements to Bard. It is now powered by Google’s advanced PaLM2 model, which offers faster response times, more customizable responses, and enhanced code generation capabilities.
While large language models like Bard are proficient in generating conversations, their efficacy stems from their extensive source material, which includes the entirety of the internet and potentially even your personal data. This raised concerns about privacy and security practices. In July, Google faced a class-action lawsuit for allegedly scraping personal data without user consent to train Bard. To address these concerns, Google updated its privacy policy to clarify that it can collect public data for model training purposes. It also assured users that personal content will not be used to train the Bard model, viewed by humans, or utilized for targeted advertising.
Google has implemented measures to ensure transparency and user control over their data. When using Bard’s extensions for Gmail, Docs, or Drive, the chatbot seeks explicit permission before linking with these apps. Furthermore, users can unlink these apps at any time, providing them with utmost control over their information. With these extensions, users can extract valuable insights from their emails or notes, aiding in the drafting of documents and retrieving relevant information.
The YouTube extension empowers users to ask Bard for assistance in writing a best man speech. By pulling in videos directly into the chat conversation, users can find inspiration and refine their speechwriting skills. The Maps extension enables users to research ideas with the added benefit of location-based information and travel estimates. Whether it’s planning a trip or exploring a new city, Bard can now provide location-specific insights. Overall, these extensions make Bard an even more valuable tool for users with diverse needs.
Despite its initial shortcomings, Google Bard has grown and evolved into a more capable chatbot. The recent updates highlighting its integration with various Google apps and the ability to cross-verify responses exemplify Google’s commitment to improving user experiences. As long as users remain cautious about the information they share with Bard, these new features offer exciting possibilities for enhanced productivity and creativity.
So, go ahead and strike up a conversation with Bard, and see how this internet-savvy chatbot can assist you in a plethora of tasks, making your online interactions both effortless and enjoyable.
