The rapid evolution of AI technologies has given rise to various chatbots, and two prominent players in this field are Google’s Bard AI and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Released in March 2023, Bard AI has entered the scene as a potential competitor to ChatGPT, which was unveiled to the public in November 2022. This blog will delve into a detailed comparison between Bard AI and ChatGPT, exploring their key differences, capabilities, and performance based on a series of tests conducted in July 2023.
Bard AI’s Evolution
Originally powered by Google’s LaMDA and PaLM 2 language models, Bard has now transitioned to Gemini Pro. This shift has led to notable improvements, with Bard now delivering responses that are marginally superior to those of ChatGPT. The incorporation of Gemini Pro has particularly enhanced Bard’s proficiency in coding queries and written tasks.
Training Data Sources: A pivotal distinction lies in the sources of data used to train the language models (LLMs) behind Bard and ChatGPT. Bard is trained on a curated dataset emphasizing dialogue and coding prowess, including science papers, mathematical expressions, and source code. Furthermore, Bard has real-time access to the internet. In contrast, ChatGPT relies on a pre-defined dataset last updated in January 2022, encompassing Common Crawl, Wikipedia, news articles, and various documents.
Language Models: Gemini Pro, powering Bard as of December 2023, outperforms PaLM 2, the previous model. ChatGPT, on the other hand, operates on GPT-3.5 and offers GPT-4 exclusively to ChatGPT Plus subscribers, trained on a larger dataset (1-1.7 trillion parameters) compared to Gemini Pro (540 billion parameters).
Key Differences:
- Chatbot:
- Bard AI
- Company: Google
- Paid Plans: N/A
- Sign in: Requires a Google account
- Languages: 40+
- ChatGPT
- Company: OpenAI
- Paid Plans: $20/month for ChatGPT Plus
- Sign in: Requires any email address, no waitlist
- Languages: 95+
- Bard AI
- Other Key Differences:
- Coding: Bard excels in coding, especially with Gemini Pro, surpassing ChatGPT.
- Conversational learning: ChatGPT can hold context better than Bard.
- Drafts and Response Editing: Bard allows multiple responses and response editing, unlike ChatGPT.
- Real-time internet access: Bard has always had this capability, while ChatGPT recently acquired it for paying users.
- Image-based responses: Bard can source images from Google, and ChatGPT Plus users can generate AI imagery.
- Text-to-speech: Bard has native capabilities; ChatGPT does not.
Test Questions and Key Findings:
A series of 12 diverse questions were posed to both Bard and ChatGPT to assess their performance in various domains. Some key findings include Bard’s more conversational responses, ChatGPT’s efficiency in paraphrasing, and Bard’s superiority in formula generation for Google Sheets.
User Experience:
Both Bard and ChatGPT offer user-friendly experiences, with simple input prompts generating responses. Bard excels in readability, while ChatGPT allows users to turn off chat history for privacy, unlike Bard.
Bard Advanced vs ChatGPT Plus:
Rumors suggest that Google may introduce Bard Advanced, potentially part of a Google One subscription. This upgraded version, powered by Gemini Ultra, might feature enhanced capabilities, including task management and power-ups.
OpenAI vs Google AI/DeepMind:
While OpenAI, with ChatGPT, is co-founded by Elon Musk and partnered with Microsoft, Google AI and DeepMind collaborate on projects like Bard. Both companies contribute significantly to the development of generative AI, each with its unique approach.
Using Bard and ChatGPT at Work:
Businesses integrating AI into their workflows should establish clear guidelines for usage and make employees aware of terms and conditions. While AI, including ChatGPT, can be a valuable tool, businesses must exercise caution to avoid potential issues related to plagiarism and data privacy.
Conclusion:
The comparison between Bard AI and ChatGPT reveals distinct strengths and weaknesses in various domains. As both platforms continue to evolve, businesses should carefully evaluate their specific needs and consider factors such as conversational abilities, coding proficiency, and user experience when choosing between these advanced chatbots. Stay tuned for further developments in the dynamic landscape of AI as technology continues to advance.
