Microsoft Set To Integrate ChatGPT With Bing
- By Paul Mah
- January 10, 2023
Microsoft could soon incorporate a version of OpenAI’s ChatGPT into the Bing search engine, and this new feature could launch as early as end-March this year to give Microsoft an edge over Google, its main search rival.
According to a report on The Information that cited two persons with direct knowledge of the plans, Microsoft is preparing to launch a version of its Bing search engine that will use artificial intelligence technology behind ChatGPT to answer queries rather than showing a list of links.
ChatGPT, also dubbed GPT 3.5, was released at the end of November. It can generate human-like responses that are difficult to distinguish from those made by a real person. It has quickly captured the imagination of the public, though some have warned of unintended side effects such as bringing about “the end” of high-school English.
In this case, ChatGPT-like technology could upend the existing search engine market as we know it. AI agents could conceivably gather relevant information and links from traditional search engines before intelligently summarizing them to give users the precise information they need without the need to parse through multiple pages of search results.
Such behavior could well threaten traditional search engine use, which relies on users seeing or clicking on ads on the search page. Indeed, users clicking on Google links with ads generated USD208 billion in 2021 – 81% of Alphabet's overall revenue.
Microsoft has a deep relationship with OpenAI. After investing USD1 billion in OpenAI in 2019, Microsoft also has an exclusive license to use its text generator AI GPT-3. However, it is not known how this might shape future agreements on the incorporation of AI technology from OpenAI. (According to Bloomberg report this week, Microsoft is now considering a USD10 billion investment in OpenAI).
For its part, Google is scrambling to refocus efforts within the company to address the potential threat to its search engine business posed by ChatGPT. Various teams at Google have been directed to work on the development and launch of AI prototypes and products, with a series of AI announcements expected in May.
Separately, OpenAI is reportedly in talks to raise capital with investors purchasing OpenAI shares from current shareholders, including employees, according to a report in the Financial Times.
While discussions are ongoing, the new round could value OpenAI at almost USD30 billion. What is more startling is how this is happening amid rounds of cost-cutting and retrenchments across the tech industry in general.
Paul Mah is the editor of DSAITrends. A former system administrator, programmer, and IT lecturer, he enjoys writing both code and prose. You can reach him at [email protected].
Image credit: iStockphoto/wdstock
Paul Mah
Paul Mah is the editor of DSAITrends, where he report on the latest developments in data science and AI. A former system administrator, programmer, and IT lecturer, he enjoys writing both code and prose.