Overview
Google Bard was a conversational AI chatbot launched in 2023, designed to compete with ChatGPT by offering natural-language answers and creative assistance. It was initially powered by Google’s LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications) but has since been rebranded and merged into Gemini, Google’s advanced multimodal AI platform.
Evolution and Capabilities
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Early version: Bard used LaMDA to generate dialogue-based responses.
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Rebrand: In February 2024, Bard became Gemini, reflecting Google’s shift to its next-generation multimodal models.
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Multimodal support: Gemini models can handle both text and images, enabling richer and more flexible interactions.
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Integration: Bard/Gemini is deeply tied into Google Search and productivity apps, extending its reach across users’ daily tools.
Where It’s Used
- Conversational Q&A and personal assistance.
- Drafting, rewriting, and summarising text.
- Analysing and combining text and images in multimodal tasks.
- Enhancing Google Search with contextual, conversational answers.
Considerations
Like all large language models, Bard (now Gemini) has limitations. It can produce inaccuracies or biased responses. Its integration with Google services also raises questions around privacy and data use. Capabilities may vary depending on user access, region, and which Gemini model variant is deployed.
