Google has announced a new update to its AI chatbot, Google Bard, which could place it in direct competition with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The new update now enables Bard to complete various programming and software development tasks, including code generation, code debugging, and the explanation of code. These features were previously missing from Bard, which meant that it was not quite able to compete with ChatGPT, the most popular AI chatbot at present.
The update was announced on Friday, April 21st, on Google’s blog. Google stated that this was one of the primary requests from users since the launch of the AI chatbot in March. Bard can now assist with generating, debugging, and explaining over 20 different programming languages, including C++, Go, Java, Javascript, Python, and Typescript. It can also export Python code to Google Colab without the need for copy and paste, and can help write functions for Google Sheets.
According to Google, a particularly helpful aspect of the update is Bard’s ability to explain parts of code to users. This could be particularly useful for those who are new to programming or are stuck on a particularly difficult block of code. When it comes to debugging, users need only input “this code didn’t work, please fix it,” and the chatbot will assist in correcting the defective code. Google notes that Bard can even debug code that it developed.
However, as Bard is still in its early experimental phase, Google warns that it may produce inaccurate, misleading, or false information. It encourages users to double-check the chatbot’s responses and test for errors, bugs, and vulnerabilities before using it for any independent works. Nevertheless, the brand is confident that Bard’s new coding capabilities can be beneficial in assisting users in their own projects.
Google has also provided other prompts for Bard, including “could you please make that code faster” and “find error handling clauses you might have missed.”
Bard was created by Google as a rival to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which is also the power behind Microsoft’s Bing chat. While Bard has similar functions to ChatGPT, a report from Bloomberg indicates that some Google employees have little faith in the chatbot and feel that the project was rushed to launch in an effort to compete with OpenAI and Microsoft.
Interestingly, code debugging and code generation were some of the many interesting tasks users showcased on ChatGPT when the chatbot first became popular. However, the tool has its own challenges, such as high traffic and capacity issues. OpenAI is also struggling to keep up with the costs that it takes to maintain its operations.
With Google’s latest update of Bard, however, this could be an opportunity for the brand to grab the attention of those interested in a specific niche of generative AI tools and use the ever-changing landscape to its benefit.