Google’s AI chatbot, Bard, is expanding its support to include nine Indian languages and introducing several new features. The move comes as Google aims to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This expansion is the largest to date for Bard, which is now available in over 180 countries and territories.
The nine new Indian languages that Bard will support include Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, and Urdu. Additionally, Bard is being made available in languages such as German, Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic.
One of the new features being introduced is the ability for users to listen to Bard’s responses in over 40 languages. This feature is particularly helpful for users who want to hear the correct pronunciation of a word or listen to a poem or script.
Users will also have the option to customize Bard’s responses by changing the tone and style in five different ways to suit their needs. This feature is currently available in English and will be extended to other languages in the future.
Google is expanding Bard to 59 new countries and territories, including Brazil and across the European Union. This means that Bard is now available in most parts of the world and in the most widely spoken languages.
To make Bard more powerful and visual, Google is integrating its visual search capabilities, including Google Lens. Users will now be able to upload images in their prompts and queries, and Bard will use Google Lens to analyze the photo and provide relevant information or captions.
In addition, Bard will allow users to pin and rename conversations, making it easier to revisit previous interactions. Users can also share parts or all of Bard’s responses with others.
Google has proactively engaged with experts, policymakers, and privacy regulators to ensure the responsible expansion of AI. As Bard continues to expand to more regions and languages, Google will prioritize user feedback and take steps to protect privacy and data.
In a briefing, Google mentioned that coding has become a significant use case for Bard. As a result, users can now export Python code to platforms like Replit and Google Colab.
Overall, Bard’s expansion and new features aim to provide users with a more inclusive and personalized chatbot experience. With support for multiple languages and the integration of visual search capabilities, Bard continues to evolve and meet the diverse needs of its users.
