The AI revolution is slowly entering our lives at an accelerated pace, and OpenAI’s recent launch of their chatbot ChatGPT is a testament to this. With ChatGPT having already attracted a million users within a week of its launch, the red alert was sparked at Google, raising the question of whether ChatGPT can replace Google’s search engine.
Google’s response has been proactive, and a renewed effort to develop and showcase an ethical AI chatbot is currently underway. However, with the spread of misinformation through AI hallucinations and the inaccuracy of search results, it remains to be seen whether Google’s strategy of prioritizing factual accuracy can ensure ChatGPT does not replace Google’s search engine.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT
OpenAI is an artificial intelligence R&D company, and ChatGPT is their latest AI chatbot for users to easily access relevant information. The company states that ChatGPT can provide users with answers to queries similar to conventional human conversations and has been designed to collect relevant information from the web.
The popularity of ChatGPT can be attributed to its ease of use and the ability to provide accurate, specific answers to users in contrast to Google’s search, which requires a few clicks. Its sheer appeal has raised alarms in Google and has triggered the company’s ‘code red’ to focus on AI development and create a chatbot that can compete with ChatGPT to protect their US$150 Bn search engine business.
ChatGPT Threat
The biggest fear of Google is the fear of falling behind in the search engine business due to ChatGPT’s quick and accurate answers. However, the chatbot’s limitations in accuracy and the potential to widely spread incorrect information through AI hallucinations must be noted.
Even though ChatGPT’s ability to access relevant information from the web appears impressive, many of its results are inaccurate, leading to factually incorrect responses. Furthermore, the spread of misinformation raises issues with ethical AI usage, raising questions about the biases present in ChatGPT’s training data.
Google’s Reaction
Google is taking the necessary steps to ensure its search engine remains viable and is planning to reveal 20 more AI-based products at its I/O conference scheduled for May 2023. The company’s CEO Sundar Pichai has directed the Research, Trust, and Safety division to help in the development of AI product prototypes, including analytics and content creation.
Google’s focus remains on minimizing the chances of AI chatbots providing wrong information and ensuring factual accuracy. Google is also becoming increasingly cautious regarding AI products and services since ethical AI usage is gaining wider acceptance. This can be attributed to the raging debate over the misuse of AI and its potential to cause harm if left unchecked.
Will ChatGPT Replace Google?
Currently, it is unlikely that ChatGPT can entirely replace Google’s search engine. Problems such as inaccurate results and the potential for spreading false information limit the chatbot’s potential as a viable replacement.
However, as ChatGPT continues to progress, Google’s strategies are certain to be revised as the potential to be left behind in the search engine business remains imminent. With potential reputational damage to its brand, Google is sure to ensure that its services are more updated and accurate than its rivals.
For now, the debate over whether ChatGPT can replace Google’s search engine remains undecided. However, it appears clear that Google is likely to play an important role in the AI landscape, and its impressive range of AI products will likely remain competitive.