Google promises new AI features amid ChatGPT competition

Alphabet and Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, promised new AI tools for the Google Search engine, as part of a “code red” plan to respond to ChatGPT.

The plan features a chatbot called “Apprentice Bard," along with a new search desktop design that could be used in a question-and-answer format.

Referring to Google’s conversation technology LaMDA, or Language Model for Dialogue Applications, Pichai said, "Very soon, people will be able to interact directly with our newest, most powerful language model as a companion to Search, in experimental and innovative ways."

The language model is expected to be released "in the coming weeks and months". Alphabet is making an effort to direct attention to AI as pressure on its core advertising business piles up amid a competitive threat from other rivals. The company is also facing pressure from ChatGPT, launched last year by OpenAI, which reached $100 million active users in January.

Google is a web search that is pioneered in AI, which is threatened by generative AI products like ChatGPT, especially since the latter can provide creative answers to web search questions. CNBC reported that the company will provide “new tools” and APIs for developers, creators and partners to “empower them to discover new possibilities with AI.