Google is gearing up to take on ChatGPT, announced Feb 8 Search event

OpenAI’s ChatGPT has become a real threat to Google Search, or so it seems. CNBC recently reported that Google is testing a conversational chatbot of its own called “Apprentice Bard,” which responds to questions in natural language just like ChatGPT. Word has it that Google wants to integrate such a bot into Search, and we might not have to wait long to find out what the company has in store.

Google has announced a Search event for next week (via The Verge), wherein it will talk about how it is “using the power of AI to reimagine how people search for, explore and interact with information, making it more natural and intuitive than ever before to find what you need.”

The Google event will be live-streamed on YouTube at 8:30 AM ET on February 8. The event’s timing also coincides with Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s remarks during Alphabet’s Q4 earnings call on February 2.

Google’s AI chatbot plans

Pichai answered a question about Google’s AI efforts: “Consumers are interested in trying out new (AI) experiences.” He announced that Google is working towards bringing direct language learning model experiences in Search. Google also said that its LaMDA AI would bet the first language model people will be able to interact with. However, it’s unclear when and how the company will implement this.

From Pichai’s statements, it’s clear that Google is ready to flex its AI muscles now that ChatGPT has taken the internet by storm. However, the executive still feels it’s early days and said that the company would keep testing AI products and features, iterate on what works, and take it from there.