The 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.
Sources Split
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The Spin
Narrative A
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
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.
Metaculus Prediction
There's an 83% chance that Microsoft will integrate Large Language Model responses directly into Bing Search before September 30, 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
