Bing learns new tricks, flexes AI muscles

To no one's surprise Microsoft announced that Bing.com and Edge will have AI enabled versions, powered by OpenAI technology.

These days feel like watching an intense sports game with lots of twists and comebacks. Just 24 hrs after Google announced their AI chatbot, the “surprise AI event by Microsoft” took place and we got presented with the new, AI-enabled, Bing search engine and Edge browser.

Both Microsoft products have been infused with the best version of OpenAI’s GPT language model. They dint say if it’s GPT-4, but they mentioned it’s a better version than what OpenAI has available free for users right now.

Obviously, it’s not yet available to the general public, but you can join a waiting list and try out a demo at bing.com/new. Basically, they added a chatbot window on the sidebar that answers with more context in a chatbot way alongside normal search engine results plus the overall ability to interact with Bing via chatbot alone.

In a somewhat dickish (but totally understandable) move, Microsoft allows you to skip the line and get faster access to the new version of their products if you set Microsoft defaults on your PC, and download the Bing app. Well played marketing team, well played…

Anyway, the new Bing will welcome users with a chatbot interface, and with this Microsoft claims a 20 years leap in how search on the web works. You will still be able to use standard Bing if you want.

To be honest, Satya is right, they electrified the online search game and they are forcing Google to align to their pace. Do they have a Google killer? Most likely no. But are they on the right path to bite more of the pie? Yes! Of course, OpenAI did most of the work, but no one will care. The speed at which Microsoft shipped the GPT integration across its portfolio is astonishing.

This will likely push forward the whole tech industry with beautiful AI ripples.

Also, worth mentioning that Edge browser will feature soon an AI copilot that will enhance the user’s experience by performing utility tasks such as summarizing a PDF, generating code, or writing some content for social media. This feels like the most natural evolution of the browser.

We are having a good old fashion tech war between Microsoft and Google while Zuck is trying to add feet to metaverse avatars. I’m loving it!