Google’s ChatGPT Competitor Bard Makes a Grand Entry into Europe and Brazil, Challenging the AI Conversational Landscape

• Blockchain Council
• July 19, 2023

Google announced today the highly anticipated expansion of its AI-powered chatbot, Bard, into Europe and Brazil, marking a significant milestone in the race to dominate the AI conversational landscape. With this move, Bard becomes available to hundreds of millions of new users, solidifying Google’s position as a major player in the generative artificial intelligence technology market.

“We are thrilled to introduce Bard to Europe and Brazil,” stated Jack Krawczyk, Bard’s product lead. “This expansion represents our commitment to providing users around the world with innovative and personalized AI experiences.”

The rollout of Bard in Europe faced a temporary setback as regulators in the European Union scrutinized the service’s compliance with the region’s stringent privacy rules. Google, however, took proactive measures by engaging with experts, policymakers, and privacy regulators to address their concerns.

“We have proactively engaged with experts, policymakers, and privacy regulators to ensure that Bard meets the highest standards of privacy and data protection,” explained Amarnag Subramanya, Vice President of Engineering at Bard. “We have made a number of changes, including increased transparency and enhanced user controls, to deliver a responsible and secure AI chatbot.”

Also read: How to Generate Prompts for AI Chatbots like ChatGPT & Bard?

Google’s efforts to enhance Bard’s privacy features and collaborate with regulatory bodies were well-received by the Irish Data Protection Commission, Google’s primary privacy watchdog in the EU. “We are pleased with the progress Google has made in addressing our concerns,” said Graham Doyle, spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner of the Irish Data Protection Commission. “They have demonstrated their commitment to transparency, choice, and control for users.”

With the expansion, Bard now supports over 40 languages, enabling users to interact with the chatbot in their native tongue. The languages include Arabic, Chinese, German, Hindi, Spanish, and several others. This broad language support opens up new possibilities for global users to engage with Bard and receive personalized responses.

Bard’s latest update also brings exciting features that enhance user customization and productivity. Users now have the option to listen to Bard’s responses, allowing them to explore ideas from a different perspective or hear the correct pronunciation of words. This feature is available in over 40 languages, catering to diverse language needs.

“We believe that auditory input can inspire fresh ideas and offer an alternative approach to problem-solving,” noted Krawczyk. “By adding the ability to listen to Bard’s responses, we aim to provide users with a more immersive and dynamic conversational experience.”

Also read: Google & Bard AI Chatbot Excels in Mathematics and Coding Skills, Sets New Standards

Furthermore, users can now adjust the tone and style of Bard’s responses to suit their preferences. Whether they prefer a simple, long, short, professional, or casual response, Bard can adapt its tone accordingly. This feature is currently available in English and will be expanded to accommodate more languages in the future.

To enhance productivity, Google has introduced four new features to Bard. Users can now pin and rename conversations, making it easier to revisit previous discussions or pick up where they left off. Additionally, Bard allows users to export Python code to Replit, facilitating coding tasks and enabling seamless integration with popular coding platforms.

“We recognize the importance of productivity and efficiency in users’ lives,” emphasized Subramanya. “With the ability to pin and rename conversations, as well as export code to various platforms, Bard aims to empower users to achieve more and streamline their workflow.”

In another move to foster collaboration and sharing, Google has made it easier to share Bard chats with friends and colleagues. Users can now generate shareable links to showcase their ideas, creations, and conversations with others, fostering a sense of community and knowledge exchange.

Recognizing the power of visual content in sparking imagination, Google has integrated the capabilities of Google Lens into Bard. Users can now upload images as prompts, allowing Bard to analyze the images and provide relevant information or creative suggestions. This feature is currently available in English, with plans to expand to additional languages in the near future.

As Bard makes its grand entry into Europe and Brazil, Google continues to invest in research and development to advance AI technology. The company’s subsidiary, DeepMind, is actively working on Gemini, a more advanced large-language model. Gemini aims to unlock new capabilities and further strengthen the generative AI landscape, pushing the boundaries of innovation.

While Google strives to lead the AI conversational market with Bard, the competition remains fierce. Microsoft, backed by OpenAI, has made significant strides with its ChatGPT service integrated into various products, including the popular search engine Bing. Other companies, such as Meta, are also working on their AI models to rival Google’s offerings.

The expansion of Bard into new regions and languages aligns with Google’s commitment to democratizing AI and fostering global accessibility. The company remains dedicated to incorporating user feedback, adhering to its AI Principles, and prioritizing privacy and data protection as it continues to refine and enhance Bard’s capabilities.

As the AI conversational landscape evolves and more innovative chatbots emerge, it is clear that AI technology has the potential to revolutionize various industries and transform the way we interact with machines. Bard, with its broad language support, personalized features, and focus on user creativity, aims to empower individuals to explore their curiosity, augment their imagination, and bring their ideas to life.

Also read: YouTube Explores AI-Generated Quizzes to Enhance User Learning Experience on Mobile App