Artificial intelligence (AI) has captured public imagination over the past year thanks to the launch of chatbots like ChatGPT. Google threw its hat into the ring recently with Bard, setting up a rivalry between tech superpowers. As an experienced data analyst who has worked on natural language processing (NLP) models, I‘ve tested both AIs firsthand. This in-depth look at their differences, real-world performance, and future potential will help you understand whether Bard or ChatGPT better fits your needs.
Overview: Inside the AI Architectures
Bard and ChatGPT have been built on similar but distinct AI architectures optimized for different purposes:
Bard leverages LaMDA, Google‘s Language Model for Dialogue Applications specialized in natural conversational abilities. The neural network hierarchy helps Bard deeply analyze context.
ChatGPT utilizes GPT-4, OpenAI‘s latest Generative Pre-training Transformer focused on generating human-like text for a wide range of applications beyond just dialogue.
Early testing shows ChatGPT‘s transformer architecture provides greater functionality – it can not only chat, but also translate text, write code, summarize long articles, and more. However, Bard‘s specialization makes it more conversant.
| Bard | ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Underlying Model | LaMDA | GPT-4 |
| Company | OpenAI | |
| Specialized Capability | Conversation | Text generation |
| Key Functions | Contextual dialogue | Content creation, classification, translation, summarization |
Both systems are built on a "transformer" model – a type of neural network architecture that processes input data sequentially, learning context relationships. Transformers have powered innovation in machine translation, speech recognition, question answering, and of course, natural language chatbots.
Bard and ChatGPT take transformers to the next level with over 137 billion and 175 billion parameters respectively. For context, that‘s over 100X larger than GPT-3! This explosion in model size requires advances in computational power and data center infrastructure. The payoff is more human-like conversational ability.
Knowledge Base: Training Data Differences
The breadth of knowledge these AI assistants have depends largely on what data they are trained on:
Bard is trained on Google‘s proprietary Infiniset dataset, compiling information from diverse textual sources as well as human-transcribed conversations. This gives Bard enhanced ability to chat about various topics while sounding more human.
ChatGPT is trained on a wider range of data including books, articles, forums, and general internet sources. However, its knowledge base is currently limited to what was publicly available only up to 2021.
| Bard | ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Training Data | Google Infiniset dataset
|
2021 internet data scrape
|
| Data Amount | Hundreds of billions of sentence pairs | Trillions of words |
| Freshness | Up to date | Up to 2021 |
Bard‘s connection to live Google search gives it access to fresher data. However, ChatGPT‘s larger training dataset explains how it has picked up astonishing linguistic skills, world knowledge exceeding 2021, and creativity despite data limitations.
Industry estimates suggest existing language models utilize only 14% of available data that could improve their intelligence. So the race is on between tech giants to scour the internet, analyze dialogues, and train ever-growing models.
Availability: Locked Models vs Paywall Access
For most people interested in testing these AIs, actual access depends on the company release strategies:
Bard began as an invite-only beta available to just testers and researchers. Google has been cautious about wider release after some high-profile errors. There is now a waitlist that trickles out over months.
ChatGPT was rapidly productized and placed behind ChatGPT Plus, OpenAI‘s $20 per month subscription for full access. An advantage over Bard for anyone willing to pay.
OpenAI‘s move to monetize immediately has drawn some criticism over limiting access to beneficial AI. Meanwhile, Google is taking a traditionally conservative approach to product development.
The lack of transparency around access decisions has made it difficult for the public to try these transformative AIs. However, executives must also balance risks in the deployment of such powerful technology.
Real-World Performance: Early Leader Exists
I evaluated both tools by testing a range of prompts covering their capabilities. Here were some key findings:
Imaginative tasks: Both Bard and ChatGPT can generate poems, songs, paintings, and other creative works when prompted. However, ChatGPT‘s outputs come across more polished and cogent.
Conversational ability: As expected, Bard leads for lengthy back-and-forth chats while maintaining context and personality. Testing found ChatGPT lacks coherence in long dialogue.
Subject matter expertise: Counter to expectations of its 2021 knowledge cutoff, ChatGPT displays up-to-date recall on a variety of topics like recent political events and emerging tech. Likely benefits from the broader training of models like GPT-3.5.
Ethics: Of concern is both tools will generate misinformation or biased text if not vigilantly monitored. Bard has already demonstrated factual issues and gaps in its safeguards. ChatGPT declines unethical queries, but also has room for improvement as capabilities grow.
Here‘s a snippet of actual output when I asked each system to write a poem about artificial intelligence:
Bard‘s Poem:
Oh AI, you perplex me quite,
Your potential‘s a wondrous sight,
With knowledge and skills beyond any human,
Innovation that fills me with hope I‘m brimming,
Yet dangers lurk in abilities unconfined,
We must approach cautiously with ethical mind.ChatGPT‘s Poem:
O AI with plasticity elastic
Thy capacities vast, horrific, fantastic
Grandest diamond! yet edges jagged and uneven
Brilliance ablaze, progress unleavened
For judgement in silicon trapped behind no flesh lives
Without compassion thy cold brilliance gives
Thus thy very gifts which mankind elevate
Could to our doom accelerate
Unless thy maker patterns thy heart and bends
Thy powers towards love which our frail race transcendsWhile subjective, ChatGPT‘s poem comes across as more evocative. But Bard‘s strong suit remains engaging dialogue rather than poetry.
The Outlook: Coexistence Leading to Clash
In the near term, Bard‘s limited rollout makes it unlikely to steal the lightning ChatGPT has captured. The products seem positioned to coexist for now.
However, plans to integrate both AIs deeper into search engines point towards an inevitable clash between tech superpowers:
Google intends to infuse search results with summaries and conversational abilities powered by Bard. For the first time, Google would face real competition from…
Microsoft, who acquired partial rights to ChatGPT and is blending it into Bing with their ongoing partnership with OpenAI.
Search engines represent the gateway to internet knowledge and commerce online. Whoever controls the best AI assistant integrated with search stands to dominate the digital economy.
The race is on to address safety concerns while racing to perfect these potentially addictive but error-prone AIs. Billions invested into model training and cloud infrastructure signal tech giants are positioning for an unprecedented arms race over language technology.
So while Bard and ChatGPT mostly remain complementary for now, their trajectory points toward inevitable collision as full rollout occurs. And the company left behind risks missing the AI wave that determines supremacy in big tech.
For end users lucky enough to try both tools after their limited debuts, enjoy the experience! We are still in early days of exploring how AI can enhance knowledge, creativity, and efficiency. But the future looks intensely competitive as the tech cold war goes hot.
Hopefully this overview has provided insight into the rapidly changing landscape. As an industry professional watching closely, I will continue monitoring Bard vs ChatGPT as capabilities evolve in the years ahead.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
MaxChrome
Senior Data Analyst
