Have We Entered The Future Of SEO? Google Hops On The AI Chatbot Train With ‘Bard’
Well, well, well, look how much things have changed! OpenAI’s ChatGPT has been causing quite the stir in the AI scene, leaving other platforms hustling to keep up.
Remember when people around the globe were fretting about Google penalising AI-generated content? Lo and behold, who’s got an AI chatbot now? Yup, Google’s response to ChatGPT is none other than their very own conversational AI, Bard.
It seems that the irresistible advantages of AI, such as cutting costs, boosting productivity, and providing superior customer experiences, have prompted even the powerful Google to reevaluate their position and adapt to the shifting landscape. And here we stand, bearing witness to an AI chatbot face-off between Google Bard and ChatGPT! Are you strapped in for the ride?
What is Bard?
Google Bard is an AI chatbot fueled by a hefty language model known as Language Model for Dialogue Applications, or LaMDA for short. This cool cat can take your prompts and work its magic on text-based tasks like a champ, from serving up answers to creating content. It can even summarise vast amounts of info, saving you the hassle of doing it yourself.
Harnessing the power of natural language processing and machine learning, Google Bard aims to dish out real-time responses like a boss. Need to shoot off a persuasive email to score that refund? Bard’s on it. Organising an unforgettable trip for two to France? Let Bard take care of the nitty-gritty.
How to Access Bard
Keen to get your hands on Google Bard? Hold your horses – access is still waitlist-only. But don’t worry, here’s the lowdown on how to join the Bard club.
Let’s kick things off with the basics – you’ll need to have a personal Google account and be 18 or older. In terms of the technical details, you’ll need to make sure you’re using a supported web browser like Chrome, Chromium-based Edge, Firefox, Opera, or Safari.
Once you’re ready, you can sign into your Google account and cruise on over to bard.google.com using your phone, tablet, or computer. Hit that blue “Join waitlist” button and give a “Yes, I’m in” to confirm your spot. You don’t even need to opt into those email updates (unless you’re into that kinda thing). Just sit back, relax, and wait for that much anticipated email from Google granting you access to Bard.
Those of us here in New Zealand are going to have to wait a little bit longer to join the waitlist
though, as access is currently limited to U.K. and U.S. residents. Some things in life really aren’t fair, if you ask us!
How to Use Google Bard
So, you’ve finally received an email saying you’ve been granted access to Google Bard..now what?
The first thing you need to do is simply click the blue “Take it for a spin” button in the email or head over to bard.google.com. When you’re using Bard for the first time, you’ll also need to agree to Google’s terms and privacy policy.
At this point, you’re all set to ask Bard anything your heart desires! Don’t know what to ask? No worries—there are some preselected questions you can pick from. After asking your question, you’ll see three different drafts or alternative answers, for you to pick which one is the cream of the crop.
If the responses aren’t quite what you were looking for, you can scroll down and give the thumbs down button a click to show your disapproval. If you like it, give it a thumbs up! After getting to know your preferences better, Bard’s responses will ideally get better over time to suit your unique needs.
Want to learn more about the subject? Hit the “Google it” button for related questions. Need to copy the response? The three-dot menu button on the bottom-right corner has you covered. And if you need to tweak your question, just hit the edit button in the top-right corner.
Bard vs. ChatGPT
Who doesn’t love a good digital showdown? Here, we highlight some key differences between Google Bard and ChatGPT.
Language Model
ChatGPT’s latest model is currently using OpenAI’s GPT-4 architecture, which is their most powerful version to date when it comes to thinking and memory skills. On the flip side, Bard is powered by LaMDA, another big deal in the vast language model universe. Both models utilise natural language processing and machine learning to serve up real-time responses, but each has its own unique vibe. You might want to give both a spin to find the AI that really speaks to you.
Data Sources
ChatGPT initially gathered all its data from a huge collection of text like Common Crawl, Wikipedia, books, articles, and loads of online content. However, the information it learnt from only goes up to 2021, so it’s a bit behind on current events and new research.
Bard, on the other hand, was trained using Infiniset, which covers Common Crawl, Wikipedia, documents, and even online chats and discussions. What’s neat about Bard is its ability to search the web in real-time, helping it find the most recent info and cutting-edge research for your queries.
But don’t count ChatGPT out just yet – OpenAI is always pushing the envelope. With the introduction of Plugins, ChatGPT can now access the internet, addressing concerns about accuracy in its responses.
No matter if you’re using ChatGPT or Bard, it’s a good idea to double-check your facts before hitting ‘send’ or ‘publish’. After all, even machines can slip up like us humans!
Availability
If using AI chatbots was dating, it’s clear that Bard is playing hard-to-get! Even though Google announced Bard in February (which can feel like forever ago in the digital age), it’s currently only available as a waitlist for folks in the U.K. and U.S. So, if you’re itching to try it out, you’ll have to join the waitlist and keep your fingers crossed.
Meanwhile, ChatGPT is already available and ready to mingle, eager to make your digital life a breeze. Just bear in mind that the snazzy GPT-4 model is exclusive to users paying a $20 USD Plus monthly subscription fee. But if you’re not ready to splurge, you can still easily access the GPT 3.5 version.
Demand
Google’s been pretty hush-hush about the number of folks who’ve joined Bard’s waitlist.
As for GPT-4, its usage cap has already shrunk from 100 messages every 4 hours to just 25 every 3, which tells you the demand is through the roof. It’s so popular that ChatGPT faced a major outage not too long ago, causing panic (and maybe a touch of despair) for users worldwide. This AI chatbot has us hooked, and it’s not going anywhere.
Keep in mind, though, when Bard finally becomes available to everyone, it’s expected to skyrocket in popularity, giving ChatGPT some serious competition!
What Does Google Bard Mean For SEO?
By now, you might be wondering how Bard interacts with SEO.
It’s all about making conversations with AI more natural and informative, and it’s got some serious potential to shake up the world of SEO. Bard is designed to work with (rather than against) Google’s search tools, which means it’s going to have a huge impact on how people find information online. We’re talking about content that’s going to be more engaging, more conversational, and all-around more helpful for users.
At the end of the day, Bard is all about changing the way we interact with search engines, making it more like having a chat with a knowledgeable friend.
Adapting to SEO Changes in the AI Chatbot Age
AI chatbots such as Bard and ChatGPT are revolutionising the SEO landscape, requiring marketers and business owners to remain vigilant and prepared to adjust.
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