Google’s AI chatbot competitor to ChatGPT, called Bard, is set to be integrated directly into popular Google tools like YouTube, Zillow, and Gmail. Known as Bard Extensions, these new features will also allow communication with third-party services such as Adobe, Instacart, and Zillow, similar to ChatGPT’s plugins.
An early preview of Bard extensions was enabled by the team at 9to5Google, offering a glimpse of what users can expect. Although the extensions themselves were not fully functional during the preview, it provided insight into their potential cross-functionality with various apps. At launch, Bard Extensions could potentially work with nine different apps, including Google Flights, Google Hotels, Google Maps, Instacart, Kayak, OpenTable, Redfin, YouTube, and Zillow.
Users will have the ability to enable or disable specific services through a new Extensions menu, accessible through a puzzle-piece icon. The menu will also provide suggestions on how to best utilize Bard Extensions, such as finding houses in a specific location under a certain price range.
There are also indications that Google is preparing a Workspace extension for Bard, as prompts in the preview mentioned linking apps like Docs, Drive, and Gmail. This suggests that Bard may soon gain access to Google Docs, Drive, and Gmail.
While specific details about the integrations and availability of Bard Extensions remain unclear, it is evident that Google is actively working on enhancing its AI chatbot capabilities. Google initially announced the integration of Bard Extensions back in May, with ambitions to integrate various Google apps and services into the Bard experience. Additionally, Google plans to allow Bard to tap into external services through extensions provided by outside partners.
In comparison, ChatGPT has been gradually introducing plugins that enable websites to utilize its chatbot for answering questions and generating responses. However, accessing ChatGPT’s plugins requires a subscription to ChatGPT Plus, which costs $20 per month. If Google successfully incorporates Bard Extensions into widely-used apps without a subscription fee, it could potentially outshine ChatGPT.
Ultimately, Bard Extensions have the potential to significantly enhance the functionality of Google’s chatbot, making it more useful and accessible across different platforms. Users can look forward to the integration of popular apps and services, as well as the flexibility to customize their Bard experience. As Google continues to refine its AI chatbot, it aims to revolutionize the way users interact and engage with technology.
