Google Bard: How to get access and what can you do with the AI chatbot?

If you have never heard about Bard, here’s how to use the AI Chatbot and what to use it for.

What is Bard?

Bard is basically an AI Chatbot developed by Google. It is based on Google’s Large language model (LLM), LaMDA, similar to how ChatGPT is based on GPT. These are types of neural networks that mimic the underlying architecture of the brain in the form of a computer. Bard is separate from Google Search, which is the default way how billions of people look for information on the web. Unlike how a traditional search works, Bard is conversational and allows users to write a prompt and receive human-like text and images generated by artificial intelligence.

In its own description, Bard is a “large language model, also known as a conversational AI or chatbot trained to be informative and comprehensive”. “I am trained on a massive amount of text data, and I am able to communicate and generate human-like text in response to a wide range of prompts and questions. For example, I can provide summaries of factual topics or create stories.”

Is Bard free?

Bard is free to use, as of now. Google’s Bard was initially available to those in the US and the UK who signed up for a waitlist but has since been expanded to those in 180 countries. Google is encouraging users to use Bard and give feedback so that the company can further improve the AI chatbot.

How do you use Bard?

Getting started with Bard is straightforward. To use Bard, you need to visit the Bard homepage by going to Bard.google.com and logging in using your Google account. From there, you will get access to use Bard and its AI interface. Bard AI is simple and easy to use, just like any Google product.

Google Bard chat window is easy to navigate. There is a Text area where you enter your questions or prompts at the bottom of the screen and hit enter or click submit on the right to send them. Google also lets you dictate your prompts by clicking the microphone button within the text area.

Once you enter written prompts, Bard will converse with you, just like humans interact. The entire conversation will appear at the centre of the chat window. After the AI chatbot responds to the query, you can view other drafts of each response alongside the ability to give thumbs up or down to provide feedback. Google also allows you to edit your prompts.

There is an edit button next to the prompt in the chat window that gives you the option to edit your prompt and tweak it to get a new answer. The edit option is helpful because the better you frame your query, the better the AI chatbot understands and tries to respond to your query more precisely. Towards the left side of the text area, you will notice the option to Reset chat, Bard activity, FAQ, Updates and Help and Support.

Does Bard save your conversations?

Google Bard doesn’t save your entire conversations each time you interact with the AI chatbot but it does save prompts and questions you ask. Given the kind of data collection Google does, we strongly recommend not feeding your private information to Bard.

Google Bard can be accessed on both desktop and mobile for free. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Can I use Bard in my native language?

Google says Bard can generate answers only in the English language. In addition to English, Bard also supports Japanese and Korean languages. The expansion of language support beyond English is part of a 40-language expansion plan.

Can I rely on Bard for the information I want?

No. Bard is still in the experimental stages, and the accuracy of the AI Chatbot could be flawed. Whether it is Bard or ChatGPT, the models they are built on are not fully updated with real-time information, which leads to factual inaccuracies. Generative AI chatbots don’t have a clear sense of how to differentiate between fact and fiction. This can lead to the spreading of misinformation on social media.

We asked Bard if it can be trusted. Here’s what the AI chatbot said:

“If you are looking for factual information, I can be a valuable resource. I can access and process information from the real world through Google Search and keep my response consistent with search results. However, I am still under development, and I can sometimes make mistakes. It is important to be aware of this and to always double-check the information I provide.”

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What are the interesting use cases of Bard?

Users can use Bard in a variety of ways. It can provide information, write code, translate languages, write CVs, help prepare for a job interview, and much more. For example, we asked Bard how to make aloe vera juice at home, and after a few seconds, a recipe complete with instructions appeared on our screen.

When we asked Google the same question, no recipe for making aloe vera juice appeared in the results. In fact, every time we asked Google for a recipe suggestion, the search results had links to different websites. But Bard really shined in its ability to come up with the solution directly as it simplifies the process of fetching the information exactly how we intended it to be.

Search functions in a different way where Google displays a list of websites that may or may not offer the information you want. Because of that, you often have to keep scrolling through the pages with no luck in getting the exact information you want. The ability of AI chatbots to have a conversational ability does make them smarter than conventional search, though they are not always accurate.

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