Google has launched Bard, a new AI collaboration tool, to the public in the US and UK. Bard enables users to work alongside a generative AI system to improve productivity, generate new ideas and stimulate curiosity. However, those interested in using Bard will need to join a waitlist to gain access. Google's Vice Presidents for Product and Research, Sissie Hsiao and Eli Collins, stated that the company has learned much from testing Bard, but feedback from a wider range of users will be necessary to improve the tool further. It is important to acknowledge the limitations of large language models like Google's Bard. While they are a remarkable technological advancement, they are not infallible. The fact that they learn from a wide range of information can lead to biases and stereotypes being reflected in their outputs, which can be misleading or false. The Google executives behind Bard have acknowledged this issue and are working to improve the system's quality and safety. They are using human feedback and evaluation, and have built in measures like limiting the number of exchanges in a dialogue to ensure that interactions stay on topic and helpful.
