GOOGLE has announced a massive upgrade to its Bard AI chatbot as the firm steps up rivalry against ChatGPT.
The free service will now connect to some of Google's biggest apps, including YouTube, Gmail and Google Maps.
The enhanced integration means users can ask Bard to get information from their emails and other private documents.
But Google insists no humans will be able to see the contents.
New Bard Extensions will work across Gmail, Docs, Drive, Google Maps, YouTube, and Google Flights and hotels, even when the information you're after is across multiple apps and services.
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For example, if you’re planning a trip, you can now ask Bard to retrieve the dates that work for everyone from Gmail, look up real-time flight and hotel information, see Google Maps directions to the airport, and even watch YouTube videos of things to do there — all in one place.
The move comes as Google owner Alphabet tries to catch up with ChatGPT which took the world by storm last year.
Accuracy has been a major concern hanging over all super smart AI chatbots.
But Google said Bard will now feature a button to double-check its answers.
In a further boost, the company said Bard conversations can now be shared with friends via a simple public link, allowing them to continue the conversation you started with the chatbot.
The new features are opt-in so users aren't forced to embrace AI.
For now, Bard can only work through a web browser - not smartphone apps.
"We're committed to protecting your personal information," said Yury Pinsky, Director, Product Management, Bard.
"If you choose to use the Workspace extensions, your content from Gmail, Docs and Drive is not seen by human reviewers, used by Bard to show you ads or used to train the Bard model.
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"And of course, you’re always in control of your privacy settings when deciding how you want to use these extensions, and you can turn them off at any time."
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