A Deep Comparison Between ChatGPT and Bard – Choosing the Best AI Assistant for Programmers
Contents
- Key Differences
- Pricing Model
- Training Data and Awareness
- Image Input
- Large Language Models (LLM)
- Training Model Insights
- Number of Variations
- Conversation Retention Ability
- Content Accuracy
- Creativity Assessment
- Security and Safety Concerns
- Additional Observations
- Is One Better Than The Other?
- Faq’s
As programmers, many of us have used AI assistants to seek efficient ways to delegate tasks. Whether it’s ChatGPT or Google Bard, these AI companions have proven to be valuable time-savers.
ChatGPT and Google Bard have significantly influenced how we interact with text, with each showcasing unique capabilities. Developed by Google, Bard excels in storytelling, while ChatGPT, crafted by OpenAI, specializes in generating conversational responses that mimic human-like interactions.
In this comprehensive analysis, we’ll identify the key differences between these AI assistants, helping you choose the right one for your programming needs.
Key Differences
Pricing Model
- ChatGPT offers both free and paid versions, catering to a wider audience.
- Google Bard, as of now, is entirely free, making it an accessible option for all users.
Training Data and Awareness
- Both models process human-like texts and rely on vast datasets.
- ChatGPT (free version) lacks awareness of events post-January 2022, while Bard, with its access to Google search, remains up-to-date for free users.
Image Input
- Both AI assistants can accept images as input.
- Google Bard offers this feature for free, while ChatGPT may require payment.
Large Language Models (LLM)
- ChatGPT employs the Transformer architecture, known for its industry-standard capabilities in generating and analyzing texts.
- Google Bard is based on the PaLM 2 architecture, designed to enhance dialogues and conversations, making it a potent researcher with real-time internet access.
Training Model Insights
The critical distinction lies in the Large Language Models (LLM) utilized by both ChatGPT and Bard. ChatGPT relies on the Transformer architecture, while Google Bard is based on the PaLM 2 architecture. Both models have experienced notable errors, but continuous learning and improvement are shaping their capabilities.
While GPT-3 and GPT-4 predecessors were trained on diverse internet sources, Google PALM2’s training involved Infiniset, a dataset focused on dialogues. Bard’s real-time web scouring contributes to generating relevant and up-to-date responses. ChatGPT, on the other hand, relies on data up until 2021, making it slightly less current.
Number of Variations
A crucial difference surfaces in the number of variations each model can generate. ChatGPT provides a single output for a given input, while Google Bard, utilizing Beam Search, can generate multiple answers to a single query, offering a diverse range of responses.
Conversation Retention Ability
The ability to retain context from prior discussions sets ChatGPT and Google Bard apart. ChatGPT can store up to 3,000 words of conversation history but doesn’t actively use this information when responding. In contrast, Google Bard excels in remembering and using context from previous exchanges, enabling more effective and coherent responses over multiple interactions.
Content Accuracy
A pivotal distinction lies in internet access. Google Bard has real-time access, ensuring it stays current and provides accurate responses. ChatGPT, without real-time internet access, relies on pre-trained information, potentially lacking the latest updates.
When utilizing Google Bard and ChatGPT for retrieving factual information, it is crucial to stay vigilant regarding potential inaccuracies and consistently prioritize fact-checking to ensure the information’s accuracy and reliability. Therefore, when considering content accuracy, there is no distinct winner between the two.
Creativity Assessment
Evaluating the creative capabilities of these tools presents a challenge due to the absence of a definitive measure for direct comparison. To ensure an impartial assessment, we tasked both ChatGPT and Google Bard with identical creative challenges, assessing the outcomes subjectively.
Example: For instance, we tasked both tools with generating a short story based on a given prompt, assessing the uniqueness, coherence, and imaginative elements of their responses.
Security and Safety Concerns
Privacy and security issues are prevalent in both ChatGPT and Google Bard. ChatGPT has faced criticism for potential misuse, including the creation of phishing emails and ransomware, raising cybersecurity risks.
It logs conversations and collects personal data for training purposes, involving human trainers in the review process. Deleting specific prompts from ChatGPT’s history is not feasible, discouraging the sharing of personal or sensitive information.
Many companies have taken measures to ban both ChatGPT and Google Bard within their organizations.
Example: For instance, Samsung Electronics implemented a ban on the use of ChatGPT by its employees. This decision followed instances of employees leaking sensitive company information to ChatGPT. In one case, an employee uploaded a corporate meeting transcript, asking ChatGPT to summarize it. In another incident, an employee entered a confidential program code, seeking code optimization from the chatbot.
Samsung’s prohibition of ChatGPT highlights the escalating concerns regarding the security risks posed by large language models. These models, trained on extensive datasets of text and code, possess the capability to generate realistic and convincing content, including sensitive information.
Google Bard, although relatively new, also raises security and privacy concerns. Reports indicate its potential to generate phishing emails, and signalling misuse possibilities. Google explicitly warns users not to share personal information with Bard, as it collects user data.
There is also a risk of Bard infringing on intellectual copyrights by incorporating content without proper permission or attribution.
Example: For instance, there have been reports of Google Bard generating phishing emails, showcasing the potential misuse of its capabilities and prompting concerns about user data privacy and intellectual property rights.
Additional Observations
Google Bard distinguishes itself with its real-time information access, serving as a valuable tool to alert users about potential factual errors, a critical feature in mitigating the risks associated with the misuse of AI-generated content.
In terms of creative flexibility, Google Bard offers users three drafts, enabling them to explore multiple creative options and refine their content accordingly.
However, one notable drawback of Google Bard lies in its limited provision of attributions, suggesting room for improvement to enhance the overall credibility of the generated content.
In contrast, ChatGPT, unlike Google Bard, also lacks a feature for providing attributions. This may be a noteworthy consideration for users who prioritize transparency in understanding the source or origin of the responses.
It’s worth noting that both Google Bard and ChatGPT tend to generate verbose responses unless the prompts precisely define the desired output, indicating a common trait in their behaviour.
Is One Better Than The Other?
Choosing between ChatGPT and Google Bard depends on your specific needs. If you prioritize real-time internet access, diverse response variations, and effective conversation retention, Google Bard might be your preferred choice.
For those seeking a blend of conversational fluency, text generation, and a flexible pricing model, ChatGPT could be the ideal AI companion. As both models continue to evolve, the landscape of AI language models will shape the future of human-AI interactions.
FAQ’s
1. How does Google Bard's real-time information access contribute to user experience?
Google Bard’s real-time information access is a distinguishing feature that alerts users to potential factual errors, enhancing content reliability and mitigating the risks associated with the misuse of AI-generated content.
2. What creative flexibility does Google Bard offer to users, and how does it compare to ChatGPT in this aspect?
Google Bard provides users with the ability to work on three drafts, allowing for multiple creative options and content refinement. In contrast, ChatGPT lacks a similar feature, and users may find this aspect valuable in the content creation process.
3. What is a notable drawback of Google Bard, and how does it compare to ChatGPT in terms of attributions?
A drawback of Google Bard is its limited provision of attributions, suggesting room for improvement to enhance content credibility. In comparison, ChatGPT also lacks a feature for providing attributions, which may be a consideration for users seeking transparency in understanding the source of generated responses.
4. Do both Google Bard and ChatGPT exhibit a common behaviour in generating responses?
Yes, both Google Bard and ChatGPT tend to produce verbose responses unless the prompts precisely define the desired output. Understanding this common behaviour can help users tailor their prompts for more specific and concise responses.
