ChatGPT and Bard are two new AI chatbots that have captured public attention. Both can hold conversations and generate human-like text, but there are some notable differences between the two bots.
One major difference is their data sources. Bard has access to more up-to-date information by continually pulling from the internet in real time. In contrast, ChatGPT's knowledge is limited to what was available up to 2021. This gives Bard an edge for answering questions that require current information.
In terms of text generation, ChatGPT seems more skilled at producing fluent paragraphs, summaries, and creative writing. Its responses tend to be more focused and coherent. Bard, on the other hand, sometimes struggles with providing relevant information, and is more prone to hallucinations or false information.
An advantage Bard has is its integration with Google search, allowing it to surface images and text directly from Google to augment its responses. ChatGPT does not have this functionality yet, although it is expected in the future.
For now, ChatGPT appears stronger at creative writing tasks, while Bard's integration with search makes it better for factual questions, if you verify the information it provides. Both bots are still in early stages of development and have much room for improvement.
There is also a pricing difference between the two. ChatGPT is free for all users, with a ChatGPT Plus subscription at $20/month that provides priority access and other benefits. Bard is currently only available to select testers for free.
It will be interesting to see how the two bots progress in capabilities and compare over time, as well as how their pricing and availability evolves.