Google Introduces Bard’s Most Capable Model To Date

Google is rolling out an update to its AI chatbot Bard. This latest version integrates with Google’s apps, including Gmail, Drive, Docs, Maps, Google Flights, and YouTube, and is the company’s “most capable model yet.”

Bard can integrate with other Google apps and products thanks to the newly launched Bard Extensions feature, initially announced at the Google I/O conference. Users can now ask Bard to find relevant information stored in their Google Workspace apps. The chatbot can even collect information from multiple apps and services and deliver it into a single answer.

For instance, if a user plans a trip to the Grand Canyon, Bard can search through Gmail emails and identify the dates that work for everyone’s schedule. Then, it can look up flights and hotels, prepare Google Maps directions for the trip, and even recommend YouTube videos with things to do. Bard can do this “all within one conversation.”

Bard Extensions can get tasks that would take hours done in seconds or minutes. This feature is currently only available in English. While it might support third-party apps in the future, Google intends to test Bard Extensions with its suite of apps and products first.

The new Bard also enables users to double-check its results using the “Google it” button. This feature connects Bard’s answers with relevant content from the web that substantiates or contradicts its statements.

If Bard is unsure about some of its generated answers, it will highlight these sentences in orange to help users understand when the AI is potentially “hallucinating.” This feature can also help the chatbot learn from its mistakes and improve.

Google also enhanced Bard with collaboration capabilities. Users can share Bard chats with each other through a public link, and anyone with the link can continue the conversation.

In addition to the new features, Google is making existing English language features – including getting Search images in responses, uploading photos with Google Lens, and modifying Bard’s answers – available in 40 languages.

Since releasing Bard in March, Google has been heavily investing in making it better to win the AI race against Microsoft-funded ChatGPT. In August, Google rolled out a Bard update, making it capable of speaking and responding to visual prompts.