Microsoft to Integrate ChatGPT into Bing

Facts

  • On Tuesday, media company The Information reported that US software giant Microsoft is planning to launch a version of its search engine Bing using the artificial intelligence (AI) behind the OpenAI-launched chatbot ChatGPT.
  • Incorporating the ChatGPT technology into Bing would allow users to find answers to complex queries – rather than just showing a list of links – in plain, jargon-free English.
  • According to insiders, Microsoft could launch the new feature before the end of March to challenge its rival Google's search dominance.
  • In 2019, Microsoft invested $1B in OpenAI, a San Francisco-based start-up co-founded by Elon Musk. The multi-year deal made Microsoft OpenAI's exclusive cloud services provider and allowed OpenAI to license some of its technologies to Microsoft for commercialization.
  • ChatGPT, which uses natural language processing (NLP) to generate human-like conversations, is designed to respond to a large range of questions based on user prompts.

Sources: Guardian, Information, Reuters, Washington Post, and Forbes.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by SearchEngine Journal. The ChatGPT-integrated version of Bing could aid Microsoft's search engine in getting a competitive edge over Google. The AI-powered technology can provide users with more accurate, relevant, faster, and to-the-point responses, making Bing a more viable alternative to Google Search. Moreover, since OpenAI intends to charge for its technology in the future, Bing may become one of the only ways to access parts of GPT for free.
  • Narrative B, as provided by TechTalks. Though Microsoft hopes OpenAI's ChatGPT will make Bing a smarter search engine, it's unlikely to pose an immediate threat to Google's hegemony. Google — which controls both content seekers and advertisers — has a firm grasp on the market and an unmatched business model. While ChatGPT is undoubtedly a promising technology, it still has several shortcomings, and it would take a long time to build its credibility.

Predictions