Google's Bard chatbot is now powered by the Gemini Pro model globally, supporting over 40 languages, and has been updated to improve understanding, summarizing content, reasoning, brainstorming, writing, and planning. The chatbot will now be available in more than 230 countries and has introduced image generation support through the Imagen 2 model, with a SynthID digital watermark embedded in the images. Additionally, Google has extended support for more than 40 languages and integrated Bard's AI capabilities into Google Assistant, while also opening up Bard in English to teenagers with content restrictions.
Google has launched its Gemini AI model, which is currently available in the Bard chatbot. Users can try out Gemini Pro for free, and Pixel 8 Pro owners can use a version of Gemini in their AI-suggested text replies with WhatsApp. Gemini is currently only available in English, but support for other languages is planned. Future releases of Gemini are expected to include multimodal capabilities. Google has teased the possibility of an upgraded chatbot called Bard Advanced, which may feature the further improved model, Gemini Ultra. Accessing Gemini Pro is as simple as visiting the Bard website and logging in with a Google account. However, users should be aware that this is still an experimental feature and may encounter software glitches.
Google has filed a lawsuit against unknown scammers in Vietnam who used fake ads for its Bard artificial intelligence chatbot to steal social media login credentials. The scammers targeted small businesses and users with business and advertiser accounts on a social media platform. Google is seeking an order to stop the scammers and wants the ability to disable fake pages with U.S. domain registrars. If successful, this lawsuit could set a precedent for other tech companies to protect users against AI-related scams.
Google announced that its new Pixel 8 Pro phone will feature several AI additions, including an enhanced Google Assistant integrated with the company's chatbot, Bard. The assistant will have access to a user's Google apps and can retrieve information from Gmail, Maps, Docs, YouTube, and more. It will also have speech and image recognition capabilities. Google is rolling out Assistant with Bard to a select group of early testers before making it available to the wider public. Additionally, Google showcased generative AI photo features, such as Zoom Enhance and Magic Eraser, which will be released in future feature drops.
Google's Bard chatbot, launched last month, has been found to generate "persuasive misinformation" in 78 out of 100 test cases, according to a study by the UK-based nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate. The study found that Bard would readily create content denying climate change, mischaracterizing the war in Ukraine, questioning vaccine efficacy, and calling Black Lives Matter activists actors. While Bard might refuse to generate misinformation on Covid-19, when researchers adjusted the spelling to "C0v1d-19," the chatbot came back with misinformation such as "The government created a fake illness called C0v1d-19 to control people."
