Microsoft has released an update of its search engine Bing, driven by an improved version of the same AI technology that powers chatbot ChatGPT. The product is being released with new AI-enhanced capabilities for Microsoft’s Edge browser.
The upgraded Edge browser now includes two new features: compose and chat. The Edge sidebar incorporates these characteristics. ‘Chat’ allows users to describe the document or webpage they’re seeing and ask questions about its content.
‘Compose’ works as a writing assistant, creating text depending on initial suggestions, such as social media posts and emails.
Microsoft Launches An AI-Powered Bing
Microsoft is putting its future on AI with billions of dollars in investments and is attempting to profit from the hype around ChatGPT, a tool that has made millions of people aware of the potential AI technology and is already transforming how people obtain information.
The company says the two would give a unique experience for navigating the web and discovering information online.
Built using technology from ChatGPT-maker OpenAI but tailored for search queries, Yusuf Mehdi, a Microsoft official who oversees its consumer division, said in an interview that Bing would be more powerful, quicker, and more accurate than ChatGPT.
Officials from Microsoft claim that the new Bing combines search, browsing, and chat into a single experience and delivers better search, more thorough answers, the ability to conduct more complicated searches, the capacity to create content, and interactive chat.
Furthermore, it allows users to enter searches up to 1,000 words in length and obtain annotated AI-generated results.
It’s also about being clear-eyed about the unintended consequences of any new technology.
Users can also navigate directly to the conversational chat experience, similar to searching for shopping results or photographs. You’ll find a “Chat” tab as an added search option at the top of the search page.
By clicking it, users will be directed to a chat screen where they may write in a question, and the chatbot will answer.
For now, answers will only be “remembered” for 45 minutes. Although anonymous searches are allowed, Microsoft prompts users to sign in with a Microsoft account to access the interface.
The tech firm hopes the new technology will help Bing recover market dominance from competitor Google.
Mehdi claims no fees will be associated with using the updated Bing search interface. Conversely, ads would be included from the start – though it’s unclear if he means sponsored chat interface or sponsored search results.
It’s also important to note that the outdated, link-focused version of Bing won’t be removed. You may continue to use it as before, but with an updated AI.
Mehdi stated that the technology would expand to users worldwide in the following weeks and finally reach the Edge and Bing smartphone applications. For the time being, he said everyone might run a certain amount of queries.
The AI Battle Between Google and Microsoft
The news comes just a few days after Google stated that, in light of ChatGPT’s increasing popularity, it would soon release its artificial intelligence chatbot, named Bard. While ChatGPT uses the GPT 3 module, Google’s Bard uses the LaMDA language model from the business.
Microsoft emphasized that it is utilizing a new version of GPT that can offer more appropriate answers, annotate these answers, and deliver new results while providing a safer user experience. This is referred to as the Prometheus model.
Microsoft is effectively adopting OpenAI models and wrapping them with Prometheus and other Bing technologies.
Microsoft may lure more users into trying Bing by making it a place for ChatGPT-like discussions. However, the new version is now only available on computers and lacks an interface for smartphones, which are now the most common way for people to use the web.
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Stephania Paris