Bard’s incorrect statement about the James Webb Space Telescope capturing images of a planet outside Earth’s solar system led to misinformation
Google’s initial response to ChatGPT has faced an embarrassing setback as its AI-powered chatbot provided an incorrect answer in a promotional video. This incident led to a decrease of over $100 billion in the value of Alphabet, Google’s parent company. Investors expressed concerns about potential competition from Microsoft, which plans to utilize a ChatGPT-powered version of its Bing search engine, potentially impacting Google’s business. As a result, Alphabet’s stock experienced a 9% decline during regular trading hours in the US, although it remained unchanged after hours.
During an online video demonstration, Bard’s response contained an error implying that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured the first-ever images of a planet outside our solar system, known as an exoplanet. This mistake was noticed by experts, including Grant Tremblay, an astrophysicist at the US Center for Astrophysics, who clarified on Twitter that the JWST did not take the first image of an exoplanet, although acknowledging Bard’s impressive capabilities.
Bruce Macintosh, Director of University of California Observatories, expressed his thoughts on Twitter, stating, “As someone who captured an image of an exoplanet 14 years before the JWST was launched, it seems like a more suitable example should be found.
In response to the reported error, which was initially highlighted by Reuters, Google acknowledged the importance of testing new systems. They stated that Bard has been made available to a team of specialized testers and has not yet been introduced to the general public.
Bard is built upon a large language AI model, a neural network that emulates the brain’s architecture in a computerized form. It learns to generate responses to text-based prompts by being exposed to extensive amounts of internet text. While this training process is effective, it can result in the chatbot occasionally repeating errors derived from the information it absorbs.
During a live-streamed presentation in Paris on Wednesday, Google did not provide specific information on how and when it planned to integrate Bard into its primary search function. In contrast, the day before, Microsoft held an event where it announced the launch of a public version of Bing search that incorporated ChatGPT capabilities.
According to Gil Luria, a senior software analyst at DA Davidson, Google, despite being a frontrunner in AI innovation in recent years, appears to have lagged behind in integrating this technology into its search product.
Alphabet, primarily known for its Google business, faced a disappointing fourth quarter due to reduced ad spending by advertisers. Microsoft, a significant supporter of San Francisco-based OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has made strides in integrating ChatGPT technology into its products, including search. This development has prompted Google, another major AI investor, to respond.
“People are now questioning whether Microsoft will become a strong competitor in Google’s core business,” stated King Lip, Chief Strategist at BakerAvenue Wealth Management, a company that holds shares in both Alphabet and Microsoft.
