Google moving forward with AI chatbot competitor ‘Bard,’ opening waitlist for testers

Google is moving into the next phase of its rollout for the artificial intelligent chatbot known as “Bard.”

The company announced Tuesday that it’s opening a waitlist for users to test out the new program, which is similar in model to the revamped ‘Bing’ search engine that Microsoft rolled out last month.

Until now, Google has had a hand-selected group of “trusted testers” using Bard. However, there’s no word yet on how many individuals will be brought in on this next phase, or how many will be allowed on the waitlist.

Applicants are currently being limited to the U.S. and U.K., as Google continues a more cautious approach to their release.

The company knows that there’s a high risk involved, as it owns a roughly 90% share of the internet market and users count on the search engine as a reliable source of information.

Google, and parent company Alphabet, are moving forward while taking measures to protect themselves from potential pitfalls.

Bard is being offered through a separate site from the typical search engine. It will feature a query box connected to the platform, allowing users to check the validity of what the chatbot is displaying.

In February, Bard was initially unveiled in a presentation where it displayed an incorrect answer relating to a question about the James Webb Telescope.

While the error was minor compared to some other issues AI chatbots have expressed in recent months, it resulted in an almost 8% drop in Alphabet’s stock in a single day, wiping out about $100 billion in shareholder wealth.

Despite the risks, the company believes Bard will offer “incredible benefits” such as “jumpstarting human productivity, creativity and curiosity,” Google said in a blog that two of its vice presidents wrote using assistance from Bard.

With News Wire Services