Microsoft and Google went head to head in the AI supremacy race, but one company took the lead with a bang while the other struggled. On February 7th, Microsoft unleashed its grand plan for AI, while the next day, Google shot back with its AI. But to say that the two presentations were unequal would be an understatement.
Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, took the stage and spoke about how AI is changing every walk of life and how it will be the next phase of the web. Microsoft saw a problem with search, which hasn't changed in 20 years and has become less accurate due to SEO keyword stuffing. Microsoft's new Edge browser and Bing will answer your questions, chat with you, and create new things to help fill the gap between search and generative AI.
The new Bing will be running on an AI that is much more powerful than ChatGPT and tuned specifically for search. When you type a complex query, you'll get typical results on the left and a synthesized answer with sourcing on the right. For example, you can ask if a loveseat from Ikea will fit in a 2019 Honda Odyssey and Bing will find the dimensions of the loveseat and the interior space of the car, and make an estimation. Bing won't be able to answer every question every time, but it will provide helpful information and has a quick feedback button at the top of every search so that users can provide feedback and help improve the AI.
The main feature of the new Bing is the chat section, which is like having your own personal helper to refine your query until you get exactly what you're looking for. For example, if you're looking for a 65 inch TV, you can ask which of these are best for gaming, and Bing will provide helpful information and adjust the results based on your budget. This chat section is like having a physical manifestation of your AI co-pilot, encouraging users to be more conversational and interact with the AI in a more natural way.
Google, on the other hand, fumbled during their presentation, with a presenter becoming embarrassed and flustered when she realized that there was no phone to give a live demonstration of what she was talking about. Investors were not impressed either, and Google's parent company Alphabet lost $100 billion worth of value during and after the presentation.
The race for AI dominance is heating up, and Microsoft has taken the lead with a bang while Google stumbled. The new Bing is just the beginning of Microsoft's grand plan for AI, and it's sure to be an interesting show. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the biggest war in technology in a very long time!
To try out the Microsoft Bing ChatGPT integration, you must first join a waitlist. Go to Bing, log in with your Microsoft account, and you will be added to the list.
Then, you will have the option to "Get Faster Access".
To move up the list faster, Microsoft has provided some suggestions and has automated the steps through a utility download on the Faster Access page.
Here are the steps that Microsoft recommends for faster access to the new features:
- Make Edge your default browser.
- Make Bing your default search engine.
- Make MSN your default homepage.
- Pin Bing.com to the Taskbar.
- Add Microsoft-recommended sites to Favorites.
- Create a desktop shortcut for Microsoft Edge.
- Download the Bing app for your mobile phone.