Introduction
ChatGPT created quite a sensation in the content marketing world when it launched in November 2022. Google followed by releasing its own AI chatbot, Bard, in March 2023. If you’re new to these generative AI tools, you may be wondering how the two compare to one another. Here’s a run-down of the differences between ChatGPT and Bards.
Google Bard vs ChatGPT: Are they the same?
Before we dive into the differences, let’s start by looking at some of the features that Bard and ChatGPT have in common:
- Both are generative AI chatbots. That means they use artificial intelligence to formulate detailed, human-like responses to questions or commands that the user inputs.
- Both are based on large language models: databases of billions of online texts.
- Both offer an easy-to-use interface: simply type your question or prompt, and you’ll receive your response in an easy-to-use chat interface.
- Both have quickly gained recognition and a wide user base (as well as many critics).
- Both are prone to AI errors called ‘hallucinations’ in which they create convincing-sounding responses that are actually based on factually incorrect information.
Even with these key similarities, there are many important differences between these two tools, as we will explore below.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI. It was released to the public on 30 November 2022. Within five days, ChatGPT reached 1 million users, making it the fastest growing app in history.
GPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer, a technology that identifies patterns in datasets. ChatGPT is based on Open AI’s GPT-3.5 large language model, which is trained using around 175 billion texts from the internet, including books and articles.
An improved, paid version of ChatGPT is now available: ChatPlus is based on OpenAI’s upgraded GPT-4 model.
What can you do with ChatGPT?
While the internet is now filled with stories of people using ChatGPT to write song lyrics, poems and even their wedding vows, most people use it for more practical tasks, like these:
- Writing and debugging code (for app development, etc.)
- Creating product descriptions
- Writing blog posts
- Drafting emails and social media posts
- Creating audio/video transcripts
- Creating short summaries of longer/more complex texts
What is Google Bard?
Google Bard is an AI chatbot released in March 2023 by Alphabet, the parent company of Google. Like ChatGPT, it simulates human language by analysing large amounts of data and identifying patterns in natural language
Bard was originally based on Google’s language model called LaMDA but was later upgraded to a more powerful model called PaLM 2 (Pathways Language Model). PaLM 2 performs better in key areas, like common sense reasoning, logic and mathematics.
What can you do with Google Bard?
Bard was developed as a new channel for Google’s primary function: searching for information on the internet. Instead of simply displaying search results though, Bard collects information from a large number of websites and answers questions that users type in. It also provides links where you can find further information related to your query.
Some of the other tasks Bard can do include booking travel reservations and helping you plan your grocery shopping.
Bard’s main goal is to retrieve information in a simple answer versus a search engine results page, like digital assistants, such as Alexa and Siri, but with links for users to gather more information.
Bard also works as a personal assistant and helps with tasks such as booking vacations, finding existing reservations and helping with meal planning. Bard uses more conversational or natural language queries for search rather than keywords used by search engines. Bard is available to the public and offers content in three languages in 180 countries.
What are the differences between ChatGPT and Google Bard?
Data source
ChatGPT and Bard use different datasets for calculating their responses to user prompts. While ChatGPT was trained using information published on the internet up to 2021, Bard uses any information currently available on the internet. This means Bard’s ‘knowledge’ is more up to date than ChatGPT’s.
Language model
The two tools are based on different language models. These are the technologies that enable them to detect and imitate patterns in human speech. Bard’s model is called PaLM2, while ChatGPT uses GPT-3.5 (or GPT-4 in its paid version, ChatGPT Plus).
Google Bard vs ChatGPT: Regarding content creation
Bard produces information in short statements, including links to its sources online, where users can click to find more information. ChatGPT generates long responses that meet the user’s specific requirements, even short and long form content.
This means you can prompt ChatGPT to create a specific type of text, in a specific style. Bard, on the other hand, answers your questions and helps you find the information you’re looking for on the internet.
Availability
As of May 2023, ChatGPT is available in 56 countries, including the EU countries, the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea and China. Bard is available in 180 countries, but it is currently not available in the EU or Canada.
Google Bard vs ChatGPT: Which is better?
Each of these tools has its pros and cons. For content marketers, ChatGPT offers far more potential in generating first-draft content, such as blog posts or social media posts. Bard is more useful when it comes to accessing the latest information available on the internet.
If you’re based in the EU or Canada, then ChatGPT is currently the best option for you no matter what, as Bard has not yet been launched in your country.
Are there alternatives to ChatGPT and Google Bard?
ChatGPT and Bard are not the only generative AI chatbots out there. Some of their competitors include Bing Chat, Jasper.ai, ChatSonic, Open Assistant and Wordtune. Baidu, the official search engine used in China, also offers an AI chatbot called Ernie Bot.
What’s next for generative AI?
Generative AI has made incredibly fast progress over the past months. It is sometimes hard to keep up with the latest developments.
However, one thing is clear at this point: these technologies are here to stay and they will only continue to improve. It’s a great time to start adopting these exciting new technologies and introducing them into your workflows as a content marketer.
Although there are still some limitations, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
