In artificial intelligence (AI), new tools and technologies are continuously evolving, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in our interactions. 

Two significant advancements in conversational AI technology, are Google's Bard and OpenAI's ChatGPT. While both are designed to have human-like conversations, they are powered by distinct technology and offer unique features that set them apart. 

In this article, we’ll examine the top key differences between ChatGPT and Google Bard, such as:

Understanding chatbot vs conversational AI

A chatbot typically interacts with humans in a conversational manner, guided by a set of pre-determined rules or scripts. Its functions generally include answering queries, providing straightforward information, or assisting with basic tasks, by identifying patterns and generating suitable responses based on the programmed rules or scripts. 

On the contrary, conversational AI refers to a sophisticated technology that fosters more human-like interactions between people and computers, as it can learn from users, adapt to their preferences, and process more complex data. Google Bard falls into the category of conversational AI chatbots.

Comparison of Bard vs ChatGPT: Key differences

Features/Characteristics

ChatGPT

Google Bard

Language Model

GPT-4

LaMDA

Web Browsing

Yes, it knows when and how to browse the internet to answer questions about recent topics and events

Yes, it pulls its information from the web

Plugins

Yes, it supports third-party plugins​

Not mentioned

Coding, Math Problems, and Writing Assistance

Not explicitly mentioned, but it is a common feature in advanced language models

Yes​

Multilingual Support

Not mentioned

Yes, it supports Japanese and Korean and plans to support 40 more languages soon

Release Date

Before Google Bard

Unveiled on February 6, 2023​

Initial Public Access

Earlier than Google Bard

Initially accessed through a waitlist starting March 21, 2023, later opened to the general public​

Advanced Reasoning and Creativity

Yes​

Not mentioned

Performance

Improved performance and factuality, less likely to refuse to answer questions​

Experienced issues at launch, longer wait times, and inaccuracies​

User Data Options

Users can turn off chat history and export their data​

Not mentioned

Conversation History

Users can view, rename, and delete past conversations​

Not mentioned

Stop Generating

Users have the ability to stop generating responses​

Not mentioned

Controversies

None mentioned

Issues with the initial model (LaMDA) and inaccuracies at launch​

Bard vs ChatGPT: What are they?

Google Bard is an AI-powered chatbot built using LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications), a state-of-the-art language and conversation tool. It was officially released to the public on March 21, 2023, initially inviting people to join a waitlist. 

However, by May 10, Google opened up access to Bard for everyone and added functionalities such as image processing, coding features, and app integration. This enabled a broad spectrum of users, including developers and marketers from around the globe, to leverage Bard for their professional tasks. 

Unlike ChatGPT, which has an information cutoff in September 2021, Google Bard has live internet connectivity, allowing it to provide real-time information. According to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, Bard strives to merge the expansive knowledge of the world with the capabilities of large language models, generating high-quality responses by sourcing information from the web. Notably, Google currently views Bard as an ongoing experiment.

Bard and ChatGPT are designed to generate responses that mimic human conversation, but each has unique features and capabilities.

Bard vs ChatGPT: Technology and learning approach

ChatGPT uses GPT-4 technology. However, Google Bard is powered by LaMDA, and there have been statements from Sundar Pichai about transitioning Bard to a more advanced model, PaLM, although the change hasn't occurred yet.

Bard vs ChatGPT: Internet connection

The Google Bard AI chatbot has internet connectivity, facilitating access to the latest trends, news, and research in developer marketing and developer relations. Initially, ChatGPT's functionality was limited due to its lack of internet access, but OpenAI has since enabled internet access (along with numerous new plugins) for ChatGPT Plus subscribers, which allows it to generate more accurate responses and cover more recent events.

Bard vs ChatGPT: Training data and learning style

Bard's training involved massive volumes of data to grasp language patterns, context, and more. Although the precise sources and datasets used for training Bard are not publicly available, it’s known that LaMDA was pre-trained on 1.56 trillion words of text and web data. 

Sissie Hsiao, VP and General Manager of Google Assistant and Bard, mentions that Bard often presents multiple drafts of its responses, from which users can choose the one that suits them best. They can then continue their conversation with Bard and even request alternative responses. 

In contrast, ChatGPT was trained on extensive data from the web, encompassing a wide range of topics and genres, to ensure the accuracy of its responses. However, it also requires human input and feedback to refine and enhance its responses over time.

AI accuracy: A challenge

Bard and ChatGPT can sometimes generate answers that may not be accurate or factual. This is a common issue with generative AI, but efforts are constantly underway to improve the accuracy of these models. Most of these issues tend to arise when the tools are initially launched, as was seen with Google Bard, but as these tools learn and evolve, the quality of their responses improves.

Summary comparison of Bard vs ChatGPT

Bard is developed by Google/Alphabet and runs on LaMDA, while ChatGPT is a product of OpenAI and utilizes GPT-4. Bard offers free access, while ChatGPT is free, but its Plus version costs $20 per month. 

Both have internet connectivity and follow different learning methodologies. The number of parameters varies, with Bard having 137 billion, and ChatGPT reportedly having 1 trillion for its fourth version.