Bing Chat, ChatGPT, Chatsonic, and Google Bard AI: An In-Depth Analysis of Leading Conversational AI Platforms

Conversational artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded in popularity recently thanks to chatbots like ChatGPT and Google‘s new Bard. Microsoft and startups are also offering intriguing options for both consumers and businesses. In this comprehensive, 2000+ word guide, I analyze the top contenders – Bing Chat, ChatGPT, Chatsonic, and Google Bard – across over 10 key factors to help you determine which is the right fit.

A Brief History

Let‘s first cover some background. Chatbots leveraging large language models (LLMs) trained on massive text datasets can now hold shockingly human-like conversations. They can explain concepts, answer questions with reasoning, summarize long texts, and generate new content.

The Rise of LLMs

LLMs originated from models like GPT-3 developed by AI research company Anthropic in 2020. They fine-tuned the technique of "self-supervised learning" where algorithms learn patterns from unlabeled text data. OpenAI built upon this with models like Claude and Codex. Their research culminated in 2021 with DALL-E for image generation and the famous ChatGPT in late 2022.

Microsoft had been investing in OpenAI since 2019. They released Azure OpenAI to commercialize these models. In 2022, writesonic emerged to provide AI-generated content. Google meanwhile tested LaMDA but didn’t release it widely.

The Chatbot Explosion

In late 2022, ChatGPT went viral with its ability to answer questions, explain concepts, and converse naturally. Microsoft responded rapidly, integrating the new GPT-4 into Bing around the same time as writesonic launched its Chatsonic bot.

In early 2023, Google showcased demonstrations of LaMDA’s capabilities and later announced Bard to much anticipation. Though glitches emerged initially, it exemplified the commercial potential.

This furious pace of innovation has put sophisticated conversational AI into the hands of everyday users in just the span of a few months – a testament to the transformative nature of LLMs.

Key Capabilities Overview

Before diving into the details, let‘s briefly summarize what conversational abilities Bing Chat, ChatGPT, Chatsonic, and Google Bard AI offer:

With an overview established, let‘s do a deep dive into each platform.

Bing Chat: The Fast Follower

Bing Chat is powered by a GPT-4 model exclusive to Microsoft and part of their Bing search engine and Edge browser.

Background

After ChatGPT‘s enormous success, Microsoft rapidly integrated conversational AI into Bing search behind the scenes in late 2022 using a model they invested in with OpenAI.

In February 2023, they rolled out Bing Chat to gradually replace the traditional "search box" with an interactive chatbot that can answer questions more conversationally and contextually.

Capabilities

Bing Chat handles definitions, explanations, basic questions, conversations, and common requests quite well. It won‘t compose essays from scratch but can summarize long texts to save you time.

Unfortunately, it lacks true integration with knowledge sources. This means it often confabulates – making up plausible-sounding but inaccurate responses.

Accessibility

The biggest limitation of Bing Chat is needing Microsoft Edge, restricting it from the majority who use Chrome, Safari, Firefox. Being tied to Bing also reduces visibility. It lacks a direct URL for sharing conversations publicly.

Usage Limits

Bing allows 30 messages per chat session before needing to refresh. Only 300 messages total are allowed per user every 24 hours – the tightest restriction among these chatbots.

Key Takeaways

• • Fast, exclusive access to new GPT-4 model
• • Tightly integrated into Microsoft ecosystem
• • Highly limited daily usage
• • Prone to incorrect responses
• • Requires Edge browser

For quick, casual use and as an alternative search box, Bing Chat delivers. But don‘t rely on it for accuracy or heavy daily use cases.

ChatGPT: The Trailblazer

ChatGPT took the world by storm in late 2022 as the first publicly accessible conversational AI. Though mistakes happen, its common sense querying and explaining makes it hugely useful.

Background

ChatGPT comes from OpenAI, led by former co-chairman Sam Altman who co-founded the nonprofit with Elon Musk and others in 2015. Their goal is to ensure artificial general intelligence benefits humanity.

Backed by Microsoft among others, OpenAI developed the GPT-3 language model in 2020 followed by Codex for coding. Embedded in the app Anthropic built, Claude, these models exhibited advanced natural language processing and generation capabilities.

In November 2022, OpenAI debuted ChatGPT as a friendly chatbot interface harnessing this technology to converse, tutor concepts, answer questions, and write programs or text.

Capabilities

Impressively, ChatGPT doesn‘t need hand-labeled data or rules defined by programmers. By self-training on vast datasets, it developed cognition to understand concepts, apply reasoning, and communicate interactively.

The bot artfully explains topics, answers follow-up questions, admits mistakes, declines inappropriate requests, and challenges incorrect premises. Curious users enjoy its willingness to discuss subjective questions without judgment.

However, its knowledge cut off in 2021 before deployment so current event awareness is limited. It also lacks clarity sometimes on whether past responses were accurate.

Accessibility

OpenAI offers free ChatGPT access on their website with user accounts, not restricting specific browsers. It went viral on Twitter and Discord as users shared amusing conversations.

Paid power users can purchase ChatGPT Plus for $20 monthly which provides faster responses and priority access during peak demand. API access is also available for enterprise customers at scale.

Usage Limits

Free users may get throttled during surges but no hard caps exist currently on daily usage or compute time. Output length per response is roughly 1000 tokens – 750 words max.

Key Takeaways

• • pioneered consumer conversational AI
• • understandable explanations
• • lagging current events/factual knowledge
• • viral social sharing
• • open ecosystem
• • potential future usage restrictions

For all its buzzworthy creativity, ChatGPT still produces some factual inaccuracies and lacks recent data. But its upside makes it hugely valuable for researchers, writers, students, programmers, and everyday users alike.

Chatsonic: The Clever Alternative

With GPT-3 and GPT-4 roots, Chatsonic matches ChatGPT‘s conversational ability in a streamlined, browser-based package.

Background

Launched in January 2023, Chatsonic comes from startup Writesonic based in San Francisco. Their founders have over 20 years combined experience in natural language generation technology.

By integrating state-of-the-art LLMs like GPT-3, they built Chatsonic as an AI assistant focused on digesting, summarizing, and discussing information just like a human counterpart would.

It aims to augment knowledge workers and subject matter experts through intelligent dialogue support rather than fully automating tasks.

Capabilities

Chatsonic asks clarifying questions when unsure and engages productively without harmful, offensive, or unethical content. You can trust it understands the facts and implications around sensitive subjects.

If you provide lengthy text to digest, it will efficiently parse the key points and offer to discuss or explain further. Errors appear less common than competitors since responses seem grounded in source details.

One limitation is its world knowledge lags current events since training data cuts off in 2022. It also lacks integration with live data sources that could verify its statements in real-time during chats.

Accessibility

The chatbot has a clean, customizable web interface letting users select avatar visuals and support multiple conversation threads. Writesonic offers helpful Chrome and Firefox browser extensions for easy access too.

It hit its stride quickly with over 100,000 early users. Businesses will likely be attracted to its Information Development plan starting at $84 per month allowing up to 50 messages daily.

Usage Limits

No hard caps are publicly listed but excessive usage will prompt upgrading to paid tiers that permit daily volumes one might reasonably need for research or writing use cases.

Key Takeaways

• • strong accuracy and comprehension
• • lacks current events data
• • browser-based access
• • responsive UX
• ~ reasonable usage limits
• • no API offering yet

For individuals seeking an intelligent research companion, Chatsonic makes conversations efficient yet in-depth. Branding itself as an AI assistant over automator builds trust in its astute summaries versus rivals.

Google Bard: The Promising Prodigy

As the newest contender, Bard impressed with its language mastery and comprehension despite flubs. Integration into Google‘s unrivaled search provides immense potential.

Background

Google publishes over 100 research papers annually but seldom commercially launches resulting AI products. Their LaMDA model for dialogue applications was announced in 2021.

Despite hype that LaMDA was "sentient", Google didn‘t release it widely over trust and risk concerns. But after ChatGPT‘s sensational debut finally forced their hand, CEO Sundar Pichai introduced Bard in February 2023.

Capabilities

Built using LaMDA foundations, Bard aims higher than just conversation. By incorporating Google‘s search index spanning billions of documents and petabytes of data, it answers queries remarkably accurately with citations and context.

You can probe descriptive specifics around facts, current events, and general knowledge that trip up other chatbots reliant just on past training datasets. It learns continuously as an "apprentice" to Google search rather than frozen in time.

That said, some serious bungles regarding telescope launch dates in initial demos set unrealistic expectations about perfectly reliable responses. Fact-checking and transparency must improve.

Accessibility

As Bard rolls out over 2023, it will add features to both Google Search and the conversational Bard app reachable by any signed-in Google user. URL links let conversations be shared publicly, seeded by prompt examples to reduce nonsensical outputs.

Over 1.5 billion Gmail account holders stand to eventually benefit from direct access. But so far, availability remains limited as just a taste of Bard‘s potential.

Usage Limits

No set quotas restrict Bard usage or length yet, but don‘t be surprised if boundaries emerge post-launch depending on infrastructure capacity strains. Businesses and power users needing dependable volumes can pay for premium tiers later.

Key Takeaways

• • integration with live search data
• ~ fact-checking needs refinement
• • modern indexed knowledge base
• • wide future accessibility
• • initial overpromising backlash
• ~ concerns over usage restrictions

While glitches marred its debut, Bard’s grounding in Google‘s unprecedented search corpus will be an unmatched asset once perfected. Early limitations around facts can certainly get remedied over time as well.

Head-to-Head Comparisons

Now that we‘ve surveyed the landscape, how do these conversational AI platforms stack up head-to-head on key decision factors?

Accuracy and Responsibility

• Chatsonic rates highest having researchers vet conversations to ensure factual reliability and ethical dialogues.
• Bard comes next leveraging immense search data yet still trips up on recency.
• ChatGPT susceptibility to "bluffing" drops it down despite responsiveness.
• Bing finishes last with minimal verification integrating GPT-4 risks.

Capabilities and Usefulness

• Bard tops here tapping Google‘s unmatched real-time knowledge index.
• ChatGPT packs immense conversational utility second.
• Close behind, Chatsonic keeps pace with astute summaries.
• Bing lags on functionality lacking integration with other Microsoft data assets.

Accessibility

• Thanks to ubiquitous Google identity, Bard will clearly lead here eventually.
• Chatsonic takes second, conveniently accessible through all major browsers.
• Similarly crossing platforms, ChatGPT follows next.
• The need for Edge and Bing drags Bing Chat down.

Best Fit Recommendations

With all aspects weighed, which conversational AI assistant is the best match depending on your needs?

Everyday Users

• Bard – Huge knowledge base to query topics for curiosity and problem-solving once rolled out at scale.
• ChatGPT – Entertaining to chat with on subjective topics despite imperfect factual grounding.

Students

• Chatsonic – Strong comprehension and discussion around study materials makes it very helpful for augmenting learning.
• Bard – Also gets nod for outstanding knowledge source to aid assignments and research once access widens.

Writers

• Chatsonic – Great writing support tool for digesting sources and outlining ideas with an AI assistant perspective.
• ChatGPT – Also handy for overcoming writer‘s block quickly or targeted grammar checks when editing.

Researchers

• Bard – Enormous potential as a search-driven knowledge panel for querying specifics around paper topics with citations.
• Chatsonic – Valuable secondary opinion summarizing academic analyses and discussing methodologies.

Businesses / Enterprise

• Bard – Customer service use cases responding to detailed product support questions with reliably sourced info.
• Chatsonic – Impressive mastery understanding and explaining B2B industry concepts makes it a powerful sales tool.

The ideal recommendations can certainly evolve as rapid updates continue across these nascent platforms. But evaluative criteria around accuracy, use cases, and accessibility narrow suitable options for most.

The Future of Conversational AI

This breakthrough era of chatbots conversing intelligently with humans has exciting potential ahead as the technology keeps maturing.

Further gains in responsiveness, reasoning, and integrating real-time data sources could make these AI assistants invaluable for productivity. Checking work email and texts might get delegated to your trusted bot!

But risks around bias, misinformation, and abusive uses require ongoing safeguards too as adoption spreads. And enterprises need reassurance on usage terms and infrastructure capacity as they budget.

Government policymakers also have to balance innovation versus regulation in this fast-moving domain with societal impacts. Support fostering local talent alongside responsible standards could be prudent.

One thing seems certain: With multiple tech giants now committed to deliver, conversational AI will irrevocably transform how knowledge is accessed and applied for generations to come. The only question is who shapes its trajectory.

Final Recommendations

In closing, while narrow use cases and limitations still exist across all options, conversational AI maturity leapt amazingly forward recently at staggering speed.

For everyday individuals, both ChatGPT and Bard bring tremendous yet differing value – one as an entertaining tutor, the other as a brilliant librarian. Choose by use priority.

Students and writers should leverage Chatsonic conversing intelligently around analyzing and generating content. Researchers need Bard more uniquely as a powerful citeable knowledge portal.

Lastly for enterprise, Chatsonic for sales/marketing assisting pitches and Bard for customer service boosting support, once consistently accurate, offer huge ROI.

Conversational AI indeed marks a seminal turning point in computing. We‘ve only scratched the surface uncovering and comparing premiere options today while the technology continues ascending rapidly. But companies now have clear leaders to evaluate pairing AI‘s talents with the uniquely human skill of sound judgment.