The release of chatbots like ChatGPT has sparked excitement about the potential for AI to revolutionize how we interact with information. Now, Google is stepping into the ring with Bard, their own conversational AI service aimed at combining "the breadth of the world‘s knowledge with the power, intelligence and creativity of our large language models". But with Bard still in early limited testing, you may be wondering – when and how will I potentially gain access to try out this promising new technology?
What Exactly is Bard Powered by Behind the Scenes?
Built using Google‘s Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA), Bard represents the next generation of Google Search. At its core, LaMDA is what‘s known as a transformer-based language model – utilizing an underlying neural network architecture particularly adept at contextual conversation.
Specifically, LaMDA relies on attention mechanisms to analyze the context of an entire conversation, not just individual sentences. This allows it to then generate more relevant responses tailored to the specific user query. Overlaid on top of the LaMDA foundation is Bard‘s conversational interface for public use.
Let‘s quickly break down some of the technical innovations that enable models like LaMDA and Bard:
- Transformers – Special neural network component used in place of RNNs and LSTMs, more effective at learning long-range dependencies in text.
- Attention – Mechanism giving context from entire conversation, allowing more targeted responses.
- Pre-training – Exposing model to vast datasets enabling knowledge transfer and fewer required training examples.
Google likely trained LaMDA using a technique called reinforcement learning from human feedback. This involves directly rewarding or penalizing model behaviors during conversational exchanges to reinforce positive responses.
When Might I Gain Access to Try Bard?
As of early February 2023, Google has launched Bard in limited preview targeting a small group of testers. It is available in 3 languages – English (US), Japanese and Korean – across over 180 countries and territories. However, Bard is notably absent in the European Union at launch.
Google has not explicitly outlined if or when Bard may launch in the EU. One potential factor is data privacy regulations – with the EU generally imposing stricter rules around use of personal data for AI systems. As Bard relies on processing vast datasets to function, Google may currently be assessing compliance requirements before a wider EU roll out.
| Bard Launch Timeline | February 6, 2023 |
| Initial Language Availability | English (US), Japanese, Korean |
| Current Countries Supported | Over 180 countries globally (excl. EU) |
| Expected Wider Public Access | Potentially within weeks/months as Google analyzes feedback |
This phased rollout approach allows Google to incorporate external testing feedback and monitor for issues before expanding access more widely. As an experimental service still under active development, it remains unclear precisely when Bard may become available to the general public.
How Could I Potentially Gain Access to Try Bard?
If you‘re interested in trialling Bard‘s capabilities before broader rollout, access currently requires signing up to the limited preview. This involves having either a personal Google account or Google Workspace account enrolled by their admin.
If granted early access, you can test drive Bard‘s conversational abilities via this process:
- Navigate to bard.google.com
- Click "Sign In" and enter your eligible Google account details
- You‘ll land on the Bard chat interface to start querying
Once connected, you can have natural language conversations with Bard – simplifying complex topics, generating creative ideas tailored to you, and even acknowledging knowledge gaps. Think of it like an assistant that continues learning through dialogue.
How Does Bard Compare to Other Conversational AI Assistants?
The release of ChatGPT triggered a surge of interest in this emerging class of conversational agents. As a pioneer in search, Google clearly recognized the need to stay competitive in this rapidly evolving space. So how might Bard compare?
ChatGPT
Both Bard and ChatGPT showcase impressively human-like conversation abilities unlocked by recent AI progress. However, as a Google product, Bard can directly tap into the vast corpora of web and academic content indexed by its search engine. This gives it an information breadth edge in certain domains.
Alexa and Siri
Virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri paved the way for consumer comfort with conversational interfaces. However, they operate based on a more rigid rules-based architecture focused narrowly on specific tasks. Bard aims to have greater contextual conversational understanding and ability to intelligently explore open-ended topic spaces.
