Microsoft, the leading tech company, is looking to revolutionize the way people browse the web with its latest project. The company plans to use AI technology to create a new conversational mode for its Bing search engine. Users will be able to chat with Bing in the same way they would with ChatGPT, an AI language model created by OpenAI. Microsoft also intends to upgrade its Edge Browser with AI-enhanced features, such as “chat” and “compose” options, to provide users with a new and improved experience.
During a demo, Microsoft displayed multiple examples of searches, including recipes, shopping, and travel tips. Bing was able to retrieve information and present it to the user in the form of a chatbot. The new Bing is powered by an upgraded version of OpenAI’s GPT 3.5 language model, called the “Prometheus Model”. Microsoft claims that this new model is more powerful and better equipped to provide updated information.
While Microsoft is making strides in the AI search arena, Google has also entered the fray with its own chatGPT, called Bard. However, the CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai, stated that the app is still in its testing phase and will only be launched to a wider audience in the coming weeks.
One of the biggest challenges for search engines, like Google and Microsoft, is ensuring that AI chatbots are a reliable replacement for traditional search methods. The biggest concern is that AI language systems like ChatGPT have a tendency to present false information as fact. Researchers have warned about this issue for years, with examples of AI-generated errors dating back to the launch of ChatGPT on the web.
For instance, there have been instances of AI chatbots providing false biographical details and offering dangerous medical advice. Despite these concerns, the rise of chatbots has brought attention to the issue and companies like Google have been using AI to summarize web pages for years. However, this has resulted in high-profile mistakes, such as Google advising the wrong response to a search for “had a seizure now what?”
Microsoft has acknowledged the potential risks associated with AI-assisted search, such as bias and “jailbreaking”. The company has taken measures to mitigate these risks, but warns users to check the facts and provide feedback so that it can continuously improve its AI technology. However, there are also concerns about the impact AI-assisted search could have on the web’s ecosystem if AI tools like the new Bing scrape information from the web without users clicking through to the source.
