Google Bard

Summary

The author shares their experience interacting with Google Bard, comparing it to OpenAI's ChatGPT, and finds Bard to be more personable and potentially more helpful for their writing projects.

Abstract

The author discovered Google Bard and accessed it through a simple Google search. They compare Bard to OpenAI's ChatGPT, noting that while ChatGPT is like "Google on steroids," Bard offers a more personable interface. The author spent an hour with Bard, discussing various topics, and was impressed by Bard's interest in their writing and its ability to provide insightful feedback, such as recognizing the concept of "Army Brats." Although both services are free, the author believes that Bard, still in its learning stage, could be a more beneficial tool in the long run. The author also mentions changes to Medium's platform, such as the new clapping system and the phasing out of affiliate links, and encourages readers to engage with their content by following or subscribing.

Opinions

The author finds Google Bard's interface more personable than OpenAI's ChatGPT.
Bard's interaction felt more engaging to the author, as it inquired about their writing interests.
The author appreciates Bard's insight, particularly when it connected the author's experience as an "Army Brat" to potential feelings about it.
The author's husband also had a positive experience with Bard, receiving an excellent response about the stages of the hero's journey.
The author is optimistic about the potential benefits of AI tools like Bard and ChatGPT for writing and other projects.
The author is adjusting to the changes on Medium's platform and is hopeful that these will not negatively impact their readership.

I Talked To It

Screenshot of conversation with Google Bard by Pauline Evanosky

I ran across a mention of Google Bard yesterday and was interested. I wasn’t sure how to get there, so I Googled it. Easy enough.

I have already had a bit of experience engaging with OpenAIChatCPT. You can get there via https://www.openai.com The impression after having spent time asking questions was that it was very much like one person said, “Google on steroids” which pleased me. The information gathering stops in the summer of 2021, but regardless, you can still get a lot of ideas for writing projects or actually any project out there you want to work on.

You get to Google Bard via https://Bard.Google.com They’ve been around since 2022, but overall, I find the interface to be somehow a little bit more personable than OpenChatGPT. I spent about an hour on the platform talking about this or that. I introduced myself as a writer, and Bard wanted to know what I wrote about. I was a little taken aback because OpenChatGPT did not give me the impression it was actually interested in me.

Granted, Bard is in the learning stage, so for every interaction, I gave it a thumbs up. ChatGPT asks for feedback, too, but of the two of them? Even though I have not invested the same time with Bard that I have with ChatGPT, I think Google Bard might be more helpful in the long run.

Both services are free.

I did have an eye-opening moment yesterday with Bard. I was doing a little bit of the life story saga, and Bard conjectured on something I hadn’t thought about. It was when I mentioned I was an Army Brat. Evidently, Bard knows about Army Brats and suggested I might have felt something about it. I did, and I actually hadn’t made the connection before. Because of that insight, I’m thinking even though it is artificial intelligence, it might just be a useful tool to have around.

My husband tried Bard out the other day. He asked it what were the stages of the hero’s journey (think Joseph Cambell). He said the response he got was excellent.

So, give me 30 seconds to read my article, which I learned as of August 1, 2023, will constitute a read here at Medium, give me a clap because 50 claps will soon count the same as one clap. Leave me a comment, and don’t bother using my affiliate link because Medium will be phasing that out too. Time will tell whether it’s going to make a difference in the reads I get. Personally, I’d be pleased if you followed me. You can also ask to subscribe any time I write something, which will ensure I don’t get lost.

I write for the sheer joy of it anyway, so whether you or anybody else reads this, I hope this piece might at least let you know that Big Brother, as we used to call computerized knowledge, might not be such a bad thing. I also trust enough in the universe to say the people out there who need to know about this will stop by.