Could ChatGPT save Microsoft’s Bing (and Edge)?
Competition just got even stiffer for the already panicky Google as Microsoft announced its new version of Bing powered by upgraded ChatGPT AI.
What may also cause concern for the already panicky Google (and its world-leading Chrome browser) is the launch of Microsoft’s product with new AI-enhanced features for its Edge browser, which promises to offer a unique and improved experience for browsing the web and discovering information online.
“It’s a new day in search,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at an event announcing the products. “The race starts today, and we’re going to move and move fast,” Nadella said. “Most importantly, we want to have a lot of fun innovating again in search, because it’s high time.”
How does the new Bing work?
The latest version of Bing, currently only available to a select group of testers, resembles a combination of a conventional search engine and a GPT-style chatbot.
If you enter a prompt, such as “Create a menu for a vegetarian dinner party,” the left side of your screen will display the typical ads and links to recipe websites, explains The New York Times.
On the right side, Bing’s AI engine will start generating a response in full sentences, often including links to the websites from which it is obtaining information.
You can ask follow-up questions or make more specific requests, such as “Create a grocery list for that menu, sorted by aisle, with the amount needed to feed eight people,” by opening a chat window and typing.
At present, the new Bing is only available on desktop computers using Microsoft’s Edge browser, but the company plans to expand it to other browsers and devices.
An AI-powered Edge browser
Microsoft has integrated OpenAI’s technology into its web browser, Edge, as a highly advanced writing assistant.
Users can now open a panel in Edge, type in a general topic, and receive an AI-generated paragraph, blog post, email, or list of ideas written in one of five different styles (professional, casual, informative, enthusiastic, or humorous).
They can then directly paste this text into a web browser, social media app, or email client. Edge also has a built-in AI that allows users to chat about any website they are viewing, requesting summaries or additional information.
During a demonstration on Tuesday, a Microsoft executive navigated to the Gap’s website, opened a PDF file containing the company’s latest financial results, and asked Edge to both summarize the key takeaways and create a table comparing the data with the latest financial results from clothing company Lululemon.
The AI accomplished both tasks almost instantly.
How big is Bing relaunch for Microsoft?
Microsoft first invested in OpenAI in 2019 and increased its investment with a reported $10 billion investment this year.
The company is now capitalizing on the recent advancements in AI technology to challenge Google’s dominance in the search market.
Microsoft plans to integrate OpenAI’s technology into various products in the future.
However, the relaunch of Bing is particularly significant for Microsoft, which has faced difficulties in establishing a presence in the search market for years.
If successful, it could reduce Google’s dominance and its share of more than $100 billion in annual search advertising revenue.