Microsoft has announced new AI-powered updates for its search engine, Bing, and browser, Edge. Specifically, Bing is getting a major update that allows users to chat with it to get more detailed answers to search queries like chatbot ChatGBT.
The development comes a day after Google introduced its “experimental conversational AI service”, Bard which is also designed to compete with ChatGBT.
Here’s everything new in Bing and Edge
Microsoft announced the new Bing and Edge which are powered by the next generation of Open AI’s language model that is more powerful than ChatGBT. The company calls the updated Bing and Edge the “users’ AI copilot for the web” and claims they will deliver better search, more complete answers, a new chat experience, and the ability to generate content.
Here is what’s new on Bing and Edge:
- Better search. The new Bing will give users an improved version of the familiar search engine experience while providing more results for simple things like sports scores, stock prices, and weather, along with a new sidebar that shows more comprehensive answers if users want them.
- Complete answers. Bing reviews results across the web show, the user will be offered detailed instruction on how to substitute eggs for another ingredient in a cake a person is baking right at that moment, without having to scroll through multiple results.
- A new chat experience. Making complex searches like if a user is planning a detailed trip itinerary or researching what TV is best to buy the new Bing will offer a new interactive chat that will empower users to refine their search until they get the complete answer they are looking for by simply asking for more details, clarity, and ideas – with links will be available so users can immediately act on their decisions.
- A creative spark. Several times users need more than just an answer like inspiration so the new Bing will generate content to help users. It can help users with writing an email, creating a 5-day itinerary for a dream vacation, with links to book your travel and accommodations, prep for a job interview, or creating a quiz for trivia night. It also cites all its sources, so users are able to see links to the web content it references.
- New Microsoft Edge experience. Microsoft has updated its Edge browser with new AI capabilities and a new look and added two new functionalities: Chat and compose. With the Edge Sidebar users can ask for a summary of a lengthy financial report to get the key takeaways and then use the chat function to ask for a comparison to a competing company’s financials and automatically put it in a table. Users can also ask Edge to help them compose content like a LinkedIn post, by giving it a few prompts to get them started. Users can also ask it to help them update the tone, format, and length of the post. Edge can understand the web page users are on and adapts accordingly.
The preview version is available at Bing.com and will be “expanded to millions soon.”
Microsoft also said, “our teams are working to address issues such as misinformation and disinformation, content blocking, data safety, and preventing the promotion of harmful or discriminatory content in line with our AI principles.” Microsoft will use ‘critical feedback’ to improve the AI models.
