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A New Chat Bot Is a ‘Code Red’ for Google’s Search Business

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Summary

A new chat bot called ChatGPT is challenging Google’s search engine by providing information in clear, simple sentences, rather than just a list of internet links. The technology, which is powered by artificial intelligence, is being developed by a number of companies, research labs, and universities. Google has been working on its own chat bot that could rival ChatGPT, but its success could mean the loss of lucrative search ads, which account for 80% of its revenue. As the technology advances, Google must decide if it will overhaul its search engine and make a full-fledged chat bot the face of its flagship service. Despite the risks, Google is aggressively pursuing chat bot technology and has reassigned multiple teams to help develop and release new AI prototypes and products. Competition from newer companies is forcing Google to make a decision, and it could mean the emergence of a new industry leader.

Q&As

What is ChatGPT and how could it disrupt the tech industry?
ChatGPT is a new experimental chat bot that uses artificial intelligence to deliver information in clear, simple sentences, rather than just a list of internet links. It can explain concepts in ways people can easily understand and even generate ideas from scratch. This could potentially reinvent or even replace the traditional internet search engine, disrupting the tech industry.

What challenges does Google face with chat bots?
Google faces the challenge of deploying this new tech as a replacement for online search, as it is not suited to delivering digital ads, which accounted for more than 80 percent of the company’s revenue last year. Additionally, chat bots can generate false, toxic and biased information, which could turn people against Google and damage the corporate brand it has spent decades building. Finally, chat bots may cannibalize the company’s lucrative search ads, as they can provide tight sentences that reduce the need for people to click on advertising links.

How does LaMDA, Google's chat bot, compare to ChatGPT?
LaMDA, Google's chat bot, is similar to ChatGPT in that it can deliver information in clear, simple sentences. However, LaMDA is only available to a limited number of people through an experimental app, AI Test Kitchen, and is not yet ready to be deployed as a replacement for online search.

What are the ethical concerns around chat bots?
There are ethical concerns around chat bots, as they can generate false, toxic and biased information. They can also produce hate speech and be biased against women and people of color.

What opportunities exist for companies to compete with Google in the chat bot space?
Companies have a rare opportunity to compete with Google in the chat bot space, as technological moments like this create an opportunity for more competition. Companies like Vectara and Neeva are working to enhance search technology in similar ways, and whoever gets there first could be the winner.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides a comprehensive overview of the implications of the new chatbot technology on the tech industry, and how companies like Google are responding. It also highlights some of the ethical considerations for using this technology.

👎 The article does not provide any concrete solutions for the issues of bias and toxicity in the new chatbot technology, and does not address the potential effects of its adoption on the existing search engine business.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about a new chatbot called ChatGPT that could potentially replace traditional internet search engines like Google. It uses artificial intelligence and can serve up information in clear sentences, explain concepts easily and even generate ideas. Google has declared a "code red" to respond to the threat.

Friend: Wow, that's huge! It could really disrupt the tech industry.

Me: Yeah. Google has been working on their own chatbot technology and has been aggressively pursuing artificial intelligence tech, but it could be hard for them to compete with the smaller companies developing these chat bots. It could also hurt their revenue since the chatbot technology might not be suited to delivering digital ads.

Friend: Yeah, that makes sense. It could really challenge their business model.

Me: Right. Plus, chat bots can produce false, toxic and biased information, so Google is trying to figure out how to deploy their advanced AI without harming users. They're also exploring ways to enhance their search engine using the same chat bot technology.

Friend: That's really interesting. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out.

Action items

Research the potential implications of chat bots on Google's search business.
Explore the ethical implications of chat bots and how they can be used responsibly.
Monitor the development of chat bots and other artificial intelligence technologies to stay up to date on the latest advancements.

Technical terms

Chat Bot: A computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users, especially over the Internet.
AI (Artificial Intelligence): The theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.
Code Red: A term used to describe a situation that requires immediate attention and action.
Netscape: A web browser developed by Netscape Communications Corporation and released in 1994.
Google Search Engine: A web search engine developed by Google.
iPhone: A line of smartphones designed and marketed by Apple Inc.
ChatGPT: A chatbot developed by OpenAI that uses artificial intelligence to respond to queries.
LaMDA: Language Model for Dialogue Applications, a chatbot developed by Google.
Sentient: Having the power of perception by the senses; conscious.
DALL-E: A system developed by OpenAI that lets users create digital images simply by describing what they want to see.
GPT-3: A natural-language system developed by OpenAI that can write, argue, and code.
Vectara: A start-up that is building similar technology to OpenAI's.
AI Test Kitchen: An experimental app developed by Google that is available to a limited number of people.
Trust and Safety: A department within Google that is responsible for ensuring the safety of its users.