The hype around conversational AI exploded with ChatGPT‘s viral launch in late 2022. Now, Google is primed to unleash its own AI chatbot called Bard into the frenzy.
Bard aims to bring helpful, human-like dialogue abilities to Google‘s products. This launch could significantly evolve search and how we interact with information online.
But when exactly will Bard be available to the public? Google initially touted a release in the "coming weeks" but plans changed after an error during Bard‘s announcement.
Let‘s dive into everything we know so far about Google Bard‘s release timeline, launch plans, early access, capabilities, and how it stacks up to other chatbots leading the AI race.
What is Bard and Why is the Launch Highly Anticipated?
First, what exactly is Bard? It is an AI system created by Google to power helpful, conversational interactions.
Bard is designed to chat naturally on a wide range of topics, provide useful information, explain concepts, and even create original content like poems on request.
Google announced Bard on February 6, 2023 with much fanfare as its entry into the red-hot conversational AI space.
The debut demo showed Bard integrated directly into Google‘s search engine on both desktop and mobile. This would allow users to toggle to a chatbot interface powered by Bard from within the Google search bar.
The implications are huge. By baking conversational AI abilities directly into search, Google can transform how people find and engage with information online.
Just ask Bard a question in the search bar, and it can provide an immediate response drawn from the wealth of knowledge on the web. Rather than scouring links yourself, Bard aims to have an interactive discussion to satisfy your information needs.
The potential to merge Google‘s industry-leading search with advanced natural language processing has created intense interest in Bard‘s launch. It offers a new paradigm for search powered by AI.
No wonder Google CEO Sundar Pichai called Bard the "next generation of search" when unveiling it. Many view conversational AI like Bard as the future of Google‘s core business.
Original Timeline for Bard‘s Launch to the Public
During the announcement on February 6, 2023, Google stated that Bard would be launched more broadly "in the coming weeks."
This indicated the public rollout would likely happen sometime in March 2023 based on the few weeks timeline.
However, Google has since pulled back on that aggressive schedule after Bard made a factual error in the initial launch demo.
Specifically, when asked for discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope, Bard incorrectly stated it provided the first images of a planet outside our solar system. As many quickly pointed out, the first exoplanet images actually came from the European Southern Observatory‘s Very Large Telescope in 2004.
This high-profile mistake within minutes of Bard‘s unveiling forced Google to rethink its timeline. Prematurely releasing an inaccurate chatbot could damage trust in the brand.
The Information reported on February 15 that people familiar with the matter said Google now plans to spend several months, not weeks, improving Bard before public release.
The chatbot is likely still months away from being accessible to the masses. Google wants time to strengthen its knowledge and vet responses to avoid spreading misinformation.
Phased Rollout Starting with Closed Beta
Given the massive scale of Google products, releasing an unproven AI chatbot too fast could be disastrous.
Instead, Google is taking a more measured, phased approach to launching Bard. This began with closed beta testing access given to just a small group of carefully selected testers.
On February 8, Google announced it was allowing "trusted testers" to begin engaging with Bard in a limited beta. The feedback gained here will be used to refine Bard before expanding access.
The Verge reported that Google plans to gradually expand the beta tester pool over time.
As of mid-February 2023, only a few dozen testers had access. But Google aims to have thousands of testers engaging with Bard regularly to put it through its paces in diverse conversations.
These testers have to request access through a survey and be approved by Google. The selective criteria prioritizes those able to give quality feedback on Bard‘s capabilities and limitations.
Only after multiple phases of closed beta testing will Bard likely reach early access previews and eventually a full public launch. At each stage, Google will evaluate the results and make enhancements.
Google‘s Gradual Approach to Rolling Out Bard
Rolling out conversational AI on the scale of Google Search requires careful orchestration.
Releasing too fast risks unleashing an inaccurate chatbot on millions. Moving too slowly allows rivals to gain ground.
Google is attempting to walk this fine line with a deliberate multi-phase strategy for Bard centered around learning. Here are the key elements:
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Limited closed beta – Allow a small set of trusted testers to use Bard extensively and provide detailed feedback.
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Gradual expansion – Slowly open the beta to more users in waves to scale up testing.
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Improvements – Use feedback and internal reviews to refine Bard‘s knowledge, accuracy, safety, and capabilities.
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Early access – Open an early access program so more users can try Bard, but keep it limited.
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Broad availability – After extensive learning, finally release Bard to general public access.
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Ongoing learning – Continue getting feedback and training Bard‘s model even after public launch.
This measured rollout focuses on incremental progress. Google wants to avoid moving faster than the technology can support.
The downside is that competitors like Microsoft‘s Bing with ChatGPT integration could beat them to market. But Google is prioritizing getting Bard right over rushing it out.
Sundar Pichai stated they want to ensure Bard meets a "high bar for quality, safety, and groundedness." The gradual launch plan supports this aim.
When Will Bard Likely Launch More Broadly?
So when can we expect Bard to reach general availability based on Google‘s new measured rollout plan?
While there is no official timeline yet, early 2024 seems a likely target based on the pace of preview testing.
Here is an estimated timeline of how Bard‘s launch may progress:
- February to May 2023 – Closed beta testing with a limited tester pool.
- June to August 2023 – Expanded beta for more testers in waves.
- September to November 2023 – Early access program opened for some users to try Bard.
- December 2023 to February 2024 – Broader public testing to catch last minute issues.
- Early 2024 – General availability launch for all Google users.
Of course, this is just speculation and the timeline could easily shift depending on Bard‘s progress. For example, any other PR missteps like the telescope gaffe could delay things further.
Google will determine each next phase based on data and feedback, not preset timelines. But early 2024 seems a reasonable expectation for when Bard could launch broadly if testing hits key milestones.
Just don‘t expect to start chatting with the AI bot overnight. Access will ramp up slowly to ensure quality.
How Users Can Access Bard Upon Release
Once Bard does complete testing and go fully live, how will users actually access and interact with the AI chatbot?
Google has shown that Bard will be tightly integrated into its search engine on both desktop and mobile.
On desktop, users will be able to click into the search bar and toggle over to a chat icon to activate the Bard conversational interface.
On mobile, tapping the Google app icon will surface a chat option powered by Bard. Users can easily switch between traditional search and AI-enhanced chat.
Google also highlighted Bard‘s integration into its Pixel phones and Google Lens visual search. It aims to make Bard seamlessly available across its products.
But web search looks be the big focus for Bard, at least initially. Bringing conversational AI into its core search business is hugely strategic for Google.
And for users, it means we‘ll all likely need a Google account to sign in and customize Bard based on our search history and preferences. Unauthenticated use may be limited.
Over time, expect the Bard interface option to appear almost anywhere Google search does. The AI assistant will sit ready to answer questions at your fingertips.
Bard‘s Conversational Abilities and Limitations
Bard represents a massive leap forward in conversational AI accessible in everyday search. But what exactly can we expect in terms of its capabilities and limitations?
Here are some of the key strengths demonstrated in Bard‘s initial unveiling:
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Human-like dialogue – Bard aims for natural back-and-forth chats, not just stiff Q&A.
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Contextual awareness – It tracks prior chat history and user profile for personalized, coherent conversations.
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Access to the web – Bard can incorporate recent real-world information in responses, unlike some AI rivals.
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Useful, not just clever – The focus is providing helpful information to meet user needs, not mere entertaining chat.
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Creativity – Bard can generate original poems, images, and other creative content on request.
However, Bard‘s high-profile error during its demo underscores limitations that Google still needs to address:
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Factual accuracy – Without sufficient training, Bard risks providing incorrect or misleading information.
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References – Bard doesn‘t yet cite its sources or indicate if info is verified fact vs opinion.
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Bias – Critics warn Bard may propagate harmful societal biases if not carefully designed.
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Safety – Conversational AI has risks around generating harmful, dangerous, or abusive content.
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Transparency – It‘s uncertain how much insight users will have into how Bard works.
The breadth of knowledge Bard can master will also be limited at first, though Google plans to steadily expand its training over time.
How Bard Compares to Leading AI Chatbot Rivals
Bard is far from the only AI chatbot aiming to deliver helpful conversations. Top competitors include ChatGPT, Microsoft‘s enhanced Bing search, and Anthropic‘s Claude.
Here‘s an overview of how Bard compares to key alternatives on the market:
| Chatbot | Developer | Key Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bard | Tight search integration, web access, useful focus | Accuracy concerns, citations needed | |
| ChatGPT | OpenAI | Conversational abilities, creativity | Factual gaps, no web connectivity |
| Claude | Anthropic | Transparent, safeguards against harmful content | Less capabilities so far |
| Bing | Microsoft | AI integration into leading search engine | Playing catch-up to Google |
| Alexa | Amazon | Leading smart voice assistant platform | Not for search, more limited conversational depth |
Bard‘s tight integration with Google search gives it an advantage in surfacing authoritative, recent information. ChatGPT offers greater conversational creativity but can miss key facts without web access.
Newer entries like Claude and Bing‘s AI chat focus on safety and transparency but lag in capabilities so far. And Alexa pioneered the voice assistant space but doesn‘t directly compete in web search dialogue.
Overall, Bard aims to combine the best of search relevance with AI-enhanced conversation. But living up to that promise will require top notch execution.
The Broader Impacts of Mainstream Conversational AI
Stepping back, Bard‘s launch along with competitors represents a pivotal juncture for AI adoption by the masses. What might be the broader impacts if chatbots like Bard truly take off?
Here are some of the potential implications as everyday users begin engaging with conversational AI:
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Changes to how we search – If AI chatbots provide faster, more convenient access to information, how we currently Google could be displaced.
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New user acquisition for Google – Bard‘s appeal may attract new users into Google products.
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Shifting digital ad business – Advertisers will adapt strategies based on how Bard alters consumer web behaviors.
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Job loss concerns – Some research and customer support roles could become automated with advances in conversational AI.
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Educational impacts – Bard could help teachers explain concepts but also enable questionable shortcuts for students.
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AI regulation debates – Societal scrutiny around AI bias, misinformation, and disruption may intensify.
The introduction of anything with as much reach as Google search comes with sweeping ripple effects. Society is still grappling with how to harness AI‘s benefits while addressing its risks.
Bard will play a prominent role in that evolving discussion as conversational AI moves centre stage in technology and business.
The Ethical Challenges Facing Conversational AI
With the power of AI chatbots comes great responsibility. Developers like Google face hard ethical questions around how to deploy conversational models responsibly.
Critics have raised several risks connected to chatbots like Bard if not thoughtfully designed:
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Bias – The AI could further ingrain societal biases and unfair stereotypes within its training data.
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Misinformation – Without proper fact checking, the chatbot risks spreading falsehoods convincingly.
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User data – Collecting and storing conversations at Bard‘s scale raises major privacy concerns.
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Problematic content – Open-ended dialogue makes it hard to control against harmful, dangerous, or abusive responses.
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Transparency – AI like Bard lacks clear explainability around how it works.
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Accountability – Who takes responsibility if the chatbot causes real-world harm through its counsel?
Tackling these tough challenges requires holistic solutions throughout the AI lifecycle. Google must ensure its training data, algorithms, policies, and practices uphold ethical principles around AI conversational systems.
Promoting transparency, allowing user control, extensively testing for safety, establishing human oversight measures, and enabling accountability are all crucial.
The stakes ride high for Google to pioneer an ethically-grounded path forward as conversational AI scales up with the Bard launch. Users will be quick to condemn any perceived missteps.
The Bottom Line
The public unveiling of Bard in February 2023 kicked off a new era for Google Search. Integrating sophisticated conversational abilities into its core product could redefine how we find and interact with information online.
But this launch comes with big expectations and intense scrutiny. As Bard‘s capabilities impress, its limitations are also apparent. Teaching an AI system to chat helpfully at scale without hiccups will demand rigorous innovation.
After an incorrect demo response forced reevaluation, Google adopted a slowed, phased testing plan for Bard‘s release. This aims to gradually expand access to catch problems before a full public debut likely in 2024.
How precisely Bard delivers useful, factual dialogue while addressing ethical AI concerns promises to shape product perceptions. But if successful, Bard could make conversing with an AI assistant as commonplace as Googling is today.
The path ahead remains unclear. But Bard‘s arrival makes one thing certain―conversational AI is now central to the search wars as tech giants race to define the future of online information.
