Google is reportedly working on adding extension support to its AI language model, Bard, in a bid to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Bard initially faced criticism for lacking features such as plugin support, which is available in ChatGPT. However, since its launch, Bard has shown notable improvements, and it seems Google is committed to enhancing its functionality further by introducing extensions.
During Google I/O 2023, the company announced its plans to develop extension support for Bard. While there hasn’t been much information since then, recent leaks suggest that Google is nearing the launch of an early preview for Bard’s Extensions feature. The leaked user interface provides a glimpse of what users can expect, although the extensions are not functioning as intended at the moment.
According to the leaked UI, Bard will offer nine extensions upon its launch. These include Instacart, Kayak, Google Maps, Google Flights, Google Hotels, OpenTable, Zillow, YouTube, and Redfin. Similar to how plugins enhance ChatGPT’s capabilities, these extensions will provide added functionality to Bard. Users will be able to verify information provided by Bard by utilizing an extension, ensuring greater accuracy. Additionally, extensions like OpenTable and Google Hotels will assist in finding and booking restaurants.
However, it is worth noting that some prominent names, such as Wikipedia, Expedia, and Zapier, are absent from the list of expected extensions at launch. This could potentially impact the overall user experience of Bard compared to ChatGPT. Nevertheless, Google might sway the situation in its favor by offering extensions without the need for a subscription, unlike ChatGPT.
While the leaked information has generated excitement among Bard users, it remains to be seen whether the extensions will match the seamless experience provided by ChatGPT. Google has yet to announce an official release date for Bard’s Extensions, but the leaked UI suggests that the feature could arrive sooner than expected. As competition in the AI language model space continues to heat up, users can anticipate more innovative features and enhanced functionality from both Google Bard and OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
