Google has unveiled significant upgrades to its Bard conversational AI system, expanding its reach to seamlessly connect with several of Google’s popular productivity apps and services. The aim of these enhancements is to make Bard more useful in day-to-day tasks, addressing concerns about accuracy along the way. Now, Bard can directly access information from apps like Gmail, Docs, Maps, Flights, and YouTube, providing users with more comprehensive and personalized responses within a conversation.
For instance, when planning a trip, Bard can automatically pull relevant dates, flight details, directions, and even sightseeing recommendations. These features are all accessible within one conversation, streamlining the user experience. These upgrades come in response to the underwhelming public launch of Bard in March, where several instances of factual inaccuracies were observed in its responses. Google hopes that by integrating the AI system with its powerful search engine, Bard’s accuracy will be significantly improved.
Fact-Checking Capabilities
To further ensure the accuracy of Bard’s responses, Google has introduced a “Google it” button, allowing users to fact-check Bard’s information against indexed web results right within the chat. This feature adds a layer of transparency and empowers users to have a more informed conversation with the AI system.
Google has emphasized its commitment to protecting user privacy following these updates. Users who choose to utilize the Workspace extensions can be assured that their content from Gmail, Docs, and Drive will not be seen by human reviewers, used for ad targeting, or employed in training the Bard model. This clear communication builds trust with users and prioritizes privacy without compromising the AI experience.
The latest upgrades also focus on streamlining collaboration. Google has made it easier for users to build on conversations with Bard. By sharing a Bard chat through a public link, recipients can seamlessly continue the conversation, further exploring the topic or use it as a starting point for their own ideas. This collaborative feature promotes knowledge sharing and enables the seamless flow of information.
Expanding Access and Language Support
Google acknowledges that the potential of Bard extends beyond English-speaking users. As part of its commitment to inclusivity, the company is expanding access to existing English language features to users worldwide. These features include the ability to upload images with Lens, getting search images in responses, and modifying Bard’s responses in over 40 languages. While still relatively limited, these new features pave the way for a future where AI assistants like Bard can seamlessly blend conversational abilities with services such as email and documents, enhancing overall productivity.
As Bard continues to evolve, Google aims to integrate it with other offerings like the calendar, photos, and analytics. This integration will further enhance its capabilities and enable users to leverage a wide range of Google tools through natural language conversations.
The Bard upgrades will roll out gradually starting today, with Google planning to add more languages and integrations in the coming months. By refining the technology in a responsible manner, Google aims to create a future where AI assistants like Bard can support users across various tasks, amplifying productivity and efficiency.
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