- Google employees are testing potential ChatGPT rivals — like its own AI chatbot called "Apprentice Bard," per CNBC.
- That's just weeks after its management reportedly issued a "code red" over the rise of ChatGPT.
The competition in artificial intelligence is heating up.
Google employees are testing potential challengers to viral AI chatbot ChatGPT — including its homegrown chatbot "Apprentice Bard" — CNBC reported on Tuesday, citing sources and internal communication seen by the publication.
The bot reportedly uses Google's own language technology, called LaMDA, or Language Model for Dialogue Applications.
This is just weeks after the tech giant's management reportedly issued a "code red" over the rise of ChatGPT, which has been making waves recently as it's able to generate written human-like text.
Apprentice Bard appears to work in a way that's similar to ChatGPT, as users can ask a question in a dialog box and get an answer in response, per CNBC. Users can also give feedback on the bot's response.
When asked if there would be further layoffs at Google — which let 12,000 workers go in January — Apprentice Bard replied that it was "unlikely" for another round of layoffs in 2023, CNBC reported, citing an internally circulated example.
"Layoffs are generally conducted to reduce costs and structure, but the company is doing well financially. In fact, Google's revenue increased by 34% in 2021, and the company's stock price has risen by 70% since January 2022," Apprentice Bard responded, per the media outlet.
Insider could not independently confirm Apprentice Bard's data source. Publicly available information show revenues at Alphabet — Google's parent company — rose 41% in 2021, while Alphabet Class A shares have fallen 32% since January 2022.
Other than the Apprentice Bard, Google is also testing other AI-powered products, including a search page.
Google did not comment specifically on the projects reported by CNBC but told Insider it has "long been focused on developing and deploying AI to improve people's lives."
"We believe that AI is foundational and transformative technology that is incredibly useful for individuals, businesses and communities, and as our AI Principles outline, we need to consider the broader societal impacts these innovations can have," said Lily Lin, a Google spokesperson.