As the race for supremacy in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots continues to heat up, OpenAI’s recent update to its ChatGPT model added a significant feature: Internet connectivity. Previously, this advantage was exclusive to Google’s Bard, but now, OpenAI’s model can harness the web for up-to-date information.
A notable milestone in OpenAI’s quest for AI innovation, the organization introduced ChatGPT plugins in March, and established a waitlist for interested developers and users to test the web browsing capabilities. These features are now in beta for the GPT-4 model of ChatGPT, likely accelerated to compete with Google Bard and its accompanying features.
The introduction of web browsing propels ChatGPT into direct competition with Microsoft Bing, a free model that also utilizes GPT-4. Activating the new feature requires ChatGPT Plus subscribers to opt-in through their account settings, unlocking the ability to access real-time information during chat sessions.
This latest development presents vast potential for users, as ChatGPT can search the web for the most current information on various subjects. However, limitations remain since the feature is only available to select users during its beta phase. In addition, OpenAI’s control over the sources used by ChatGPT remains unclear. The model was unsuccessful when tested with potentially “unethical” queries or searches for information found on untrustworthy websites.
A comparison between ChatGPT, Bard, and Bing by Decrypt revealed varying capabilities among the chatbots. While ChatGPT provided an almost accurate response on Bitcoin price using Coinbase as a reference, Bard gave a result based on its sources and Bing relied on Google and CoinMarketCap data. In terms of speed and depth of information, Bard and Bing outperformed ChatGPT, offering quick responses and additional details, such as price fluctuations, high-low prices, trading volume, and price changes. However, ChatGPT excelled in more creative tasks, such as summarizing news articles.
Despite the disparities in performance, the inclusion of internet connectivity in ChatGPT represents a significant step forward in the AI chatbot landscape. Although some of ChatGPT’s “Plus” features may be available for free in other models, its ability to access real-time data grants it a competitive edge. The ongoing developments in AI chatbot technology ensure that this race will continue to evolve, as more powerful and capable solutions emerge on the horizon.
Source: Decrypt
