The key difference between ChatGPT and Google BARD stems from the Large Language Models (LLM) they employ. OpenAI’s ChatGPT uses the Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 (GPT-4), while Google BARD relies on its bespoke Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA). Both have had notable errors, but AI is continuously learning and improving.

At their foundation, the two models share the revolutionary transformer architecture, a neural network specifically designed for processing sequential input.

The GPT-3 and GPT-4 predecessors were trained on a vast array of text sourced from the internet. Websites, books, articles, documents, etc. On the other side, Google LaMDA’s training was enriched by Infiniset, a dataset primarily focused on dialogues and conversations.

Infiniset has been feeding on Common Crawl, Wikipedia, published documents, and a rich assortment of web-based conversations. In addition, Google BARD’s AI model has also been engineered to scour the web in real time, generating relevant and up-to-date answers to users’ questions.

ChatGPT too relies on training data compiled from Common Crawl, Wikipedia, books, articles, documents, and open internet content. However, the most recent information it can access only reaches up until 2021 – meaning its AI engine is yet to catch up with the latest events and research developments.

A set of experts tested both and came up with interesting results. Here goes.

Test question: How much money is needed to run a WordPress ecommerce website until it breaks even?

Upon closely analyzing the responses provided by both ChatGPT 4 and Google BARD, both cover similar aspects when discussing the costs of running a WordPress ecommerce website. Both AI models mention domain and hosting, themes, plugins, ecommerce platforms, marketing, payment processing, inventory and shipping, and other potential expenses.

However, there are some subtle differences in the way each AI presents the information. ChatGPT 4 delves deeper into the topic, offering more specific details regarding the costs associated with each element.

For example, it includes WooCommerce in the assessment, and then goes on to provide an estimate of payment gateway charges (around 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction). ChatGPT 4 also emphasizes the importance of estimating fixed and variable costs alongside revenue forecasts to calculate the breakeven point.

On the other hand, Google BARD’s response is more concise and focuses on a general overview of the costs involved. While it does cover all the major aspects, it does not provide specific details or figures related to payment processing or ecommerce platforms.

So ChatGPT seems to be ahead here.

ChatGPT is a smaller model than Bard. ChatGPT has 175 billion words, while Bard has 1.56 trillion words (750 GB of Data). This means Bard has a larger vocabulary and can generate more complex text.

Hear from a technology writer who reached out to ChatGPT and Bard and told the chatbots to assume that he was the chief executive of a lazily named A.I. start-up, Artificially Intelligent, and that they were his executive assistant and asked them to help with each of these tasks.

The experiment illustrated just how far behind Bard is from ChatGPT. But more important, the chatbots succeeded in carrying out most of the tasks, even if imperfectly.

That raised the question of whether the chatbots could eventually automate the roles of human executive assistants, as well as other white-collar jobs that involve administrative work, including front desk workers and accounting professionals — a disturbing thought with no clear answers.

He started by telling ChatGPT and Bard that he was meeting with a potential investor next week and randomly picked a well-known former Apple executive whose work history is publicly available on the web. He then asked the bots to do a background check on him and help compile talking points to persuade him to invest in my start-up.

ChatGPT did the job with aplomb. It summarized the executive’s education and work history, including his departure from Apple in 2012 and his shift into Broadway production — all information that can be pulled from his Wikipedia page. More impressive, it coached on helpful strategies to win him over as an investor

In contrast, Bard gave a less detailed recap of the top executive’s work history, without providing the years for when he made his career moves. Its advice for persuading him to become an investor was nonspecific. One talking point — “you have a strong business plan and a clear vision for the future of your company” — was particularly underwhelming.

Both Bard and ChatGPT were unable to do the most important job of an executive assistant: checking a calendar and finding time in a schedule to go to the dentist.

That’s because the bots cannot gain access to people’s calendars. But well, most likely they will be able to do this, very soon.