Google Bard’s biggest advantage over the free ChatGPT tool is that ChatGPT’s training data was last updated in September 2021.
In fact, when I asked ChatGPT to tell me about Google Bard, the response I got was “As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, there is no widely known or recognized technology or product called ‘Google Bard.’” At least ChatGPT was smart enough this time to say “I don’t know” rather than just making something up.
On the other hand, when I ask Google Bard to describe its strengths versus ChatGPT, the Bard sings and never shuts up. It’s quite happy to share all the advantages it offers and to be fair, they’re pretty accurate.
Don’t think that Bard’s LLM basis and access to Google searches prevents it from hallucinating, though. It produced a wonderful example for me today when I asked it where Vetoquinol’s Benesca headquarters is located.
Our Benesca affiliate manages a number of countries, including Belgium, Netherlands, and more. Bard, however, doesn’t know that and isn’t smart enough to say, “Hey Jeff, what the hell’s Benesca?”
Instead, Bard’s Draft 1 informed me that our Benesca HQ is located in Fort Worth, TX. It even gave me a street address, before adding value by telling me that Benesca is a division of Vetoquinol USA (wrong) and that we have a manufacturing facility in Fort Worth (also wrong).
Worse, when I looked at alternate drafts offered by Bard, the street address changed each time. Those Norwegians commuting to Texas are probably having a hell of a time finding the office.
So, how about ChatGPT? They fared better. ChatGPT also has no idea where Benesca is, but ‘fessed up to its own ignorance. It simply told me that Vetoquinol is a global animal health company and that the headquarters are in Lure, France. True! ChatGPT went on to recommend that I contact the global HQ to find out where regional offices are, perhaps by checking the official website.
I’ll certainly do that before planning a trip to Antwerp.