Great is the confusion under heaven. The incredible boom of ChatGPT, the speed record in the history of the internet, forces Google to run for cover: next week Big G will host an extraordinary event on the use of artificial intelligence in its apps to respond to the creation of OpenAI.
The event, which I can't help but call "emergency" in some way, will last 40 minutes and will be broadcast live on YouTube Wednesday 8 February.
What should we expect?
CEO announcement Sundar Pichai was eloquent: "users will soon be able to interact with our most advanced and powerful language models as research assistants in creative and experimental ways."
This is the biggest confirmation that ChatGPT is the biggest "species threat" to Google, as we wrote here. The agitation of the Californian company, which even "recalled" the co-founders from their retreat Larry Page e Sergey Brinsays it all.
Indeed, Google is full of artificial intelligence. The impression is that it has underestimated its competitors thinking it has an advantage that it has chosen to exploit for itself. Opposite strategy for OpenAI, which by disseminating technologies such as GIVE HER and ChatGPT produced panic. And now? Some think that Google will integrate its language model into its products TheMDA (remember that? The one that cost the engineer his job who called him "sentient") is Image, its AI for image generation.
Are they ready to challenge those of OpenAI?
The story of Google's "spreading reactions" to competitor exploits is familiar to all. When Facebook was seen as an opponent to be eliminated at all costs, Page and Brin decided to oppose Google Plus. Do you all remember how it ended?
That's why, while it's necessary to take precautionary measures against a "tsunami" like ChatGPT, Google needs to consider the potential long-term implications before making hasty decisions, or it could hurt itself.
OpenAI can mislead: the "best" is the enemy of the "good"
It's not clear to me how a competitor to ChatGPT would change Google's main problem, which is monetization. The current model works by indexing responses, taking money from those who want to appear at the top of search results, but now? How do you monetize the "chat" responses of an artificial intelligence? The dilemma for Google is this: change interface risking current profits? Creating a "half chat" that doesn't convince anyone? I smell Alexa.
Anyway, at Alphabet they have things in mind. And some of these will be announced on February 8th. Is it that Apprentice Bard that is being talked about? A chatbot that uses LaMDA and allows you to ask questions and receive detailed answers like OpenAI technology.
Will it be an alternate search page? A question and answer bar below the search bar?
We just have to wait (little: OpenAI looms)
One thing is for sure: OpenAI's only real threat to Google right now is its stock price. Google has several annual public touchpoints: It could announce anything even in May at its annual Google I/O event.
However, May falls in the next quarter, and if OpenAI launches paid subscriptions for ChatGPT this quarter, Google could get hurt by seeing its investors' confidence plummet.
That's why, in a hurry, we go to battle on Wednesday. Let's see the cards! We will keep you posted.
