Bard, Bing, and other alternatives to ChatGPT

ChatGPT, as we know, has launched the use of AI tools into the spotlight in a whole new way. With over 100 million users, the platform has transformed writing processes for many individuals and businesses. However, as with all tech, it is not without its faults. ChatGPT users have encountered a few issues in using the tool, and there are some general drawbacks to it anyway. Some problems include not being able to generate data about current events, because it has only been trained on data from and before September 2021. It also cannot generate visuals or AI art, nor take voice commands or generate voice responses.

In addition, it's often the case ChatGPT is at user capacity, which isn't surprising when it's used by over 100 million people! People often get error messages saying that the platform is down or at capacity, which means it's difficult to rely on it as a daily, consistent work tool unless you are willing to pay for ChatGPT Plus at $20 USD per month.

So, before you do that, let's look at your options. There are several other AI platforms available with similar capabilities as ChatGPT, and it's possible that one of them could actually better suit your needs than ChatGPT. Before we check these alternatives out, let's quickly look at some of the pros and cons of ChatGPT itself.

Pros:

• Generating a response and then answering follow-up questions in a conversational style
• Provides detailed, long-form responses when prompted to do so
• It is multilingual
• Versatile in the style or type of text required, capable of technical, academic, or casual tone, etc.

Cons:

• $20 USD per month for a subscription to access all features
• Only trained on data up to September 2021
• Produces flat, non-emotive responses
• Not always available due to capacity issues
• Can generate inaccurate responses, and does not provide citations and sources

Let's now take a look at some of the best alternatives to ChatGPT in 2023.

Google Bard

Launched in March of 2023, Bard is Google's answer to ChatGPT. While in many ways the two platforms are on par with each other, there are a few specific capabilities that Bard offers, one of them being real-time access to websites. This means it can access real-time, up-to-date information and keep its responses up-to-date as well, making Bard preferable for users wanting to do quick research, and holding an advantage over ChatGPT, which only offers information up to September 2021. These two aspects are the key difference between the two chatbots. But what are the pros and cons of Bard itself?

Pros:

• Free to use
• Answers questions with current, relevant information
• Good at providing nuanced, contextualised responses to complex questions
• Exceptionally fast response time, which is great in tandem with its internet access-based responses
• Provides multiple drafts, responding to queries with three different versions of the answer for users to select from

Cons:

• Also capable of biased, inaccurate responses and plagiarism
• Can be inconsistent in its responses
• Limited memory for previous questions/conversations
• Only supports English

Microsoft Bing AI

Microsoft released its AI tool, Bing AI, to the public at the beginning of May 2023. Bing AI also has some notable differences from ChatGPT. Bing is also capable of accessing the internet and providing answers to current events, which is one of the major drawbacks of ChatGPT. Bing does also provide sources for its answers in a bid to make up for any potential inaccuracies in its responses. In addition, the platform is capable of generating and working with visuals, another thing ChatGPT cannot do.

Pros:

• Provides accurate and relevant search results with citations
• Able to work with images
• Supports voice search
• Capable of accessing the internet
• Good memory capacity for recalling previous conversations and questions

Cons:

• Slower response time
• Limited chats and sessions per day due to capacity management
• Shorter responses to questions
• Non-emotive responses

Other AI alternatives

OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google's AI chatbots may be taking up centre stage, but there are several other alternatives to these tech giants. Ultimately, the AI tool you select comes down to your specific needs. So, while ChatGPT, Bard, and Bing are prominent, there are plenty of other options available.

BlenderBot

A social ChatGPT variant, BlenderBot has been developed by Facebook AI as a powerful ChatGPT alternative that emphasises social conversational skills. Unlike traditional models, BlenderBot is specifically designed to engage in small talk, demonstrate empathy, and display more human-like conversational behaviour. The model achieves this by incorporating strategies such as persona consistency, empathy, and the ability to ask clarifying questions. BlenderBot offers a compelling alternative for those seeking a more personable and relatable virtual agent.

Chatsonic

Powered by GPT4, Chatsonic addresses several of the problems faced by ChatGPT, offering real-time data, image, voice searches, and a wide range of content creation capabilities. Chatsonic is a Google-integrated chatbot, and like Bard and Bing, is capable of accessing current, real-time information. This platform also has a long memory for previous conversations, saving each of them for recall in future. In addition, Chatsonic can integrate with other platforms, allowing you to summarise Gmail threads, or create blogs and articles.

Jasper

Jasper is an AI writing software tool, ideal for companies needing to generate quick, high-quality content. This platform creates completely original content, meaning no plagiarism across multiple text forms, such as ad campaigns, blogs, or social posts. It does this by offering "templates," meaning you can select a style to prompt the platform with before it starts generating text. Jasper also has image AI generation capabilities and can integrate with Grammarly and various other Chrome extensions. It generates responses fast and creates well-written, natural-sounding content.

While ChatGPT has made significant strides in AI conversation, exploring alternative options is essential to ensure diverse and contextually accurate responses. These alternatives offer unique features and cater to different requirements. As the field of AI continues to evolve, it is crucial to experiment with these alternatives to enhance conversational capabilities and provide users with more reliable and tailored chatbot experiences. These different platforms showcase the ongoing progress in creating AI systems that are more contextually aware, empathetic, and socially engaging. As we've said, it ultimately comes down to each business or individual's specific needs. If you're uncertain which tool is best for your own business, get in touch with the NEXA team today to find the perfect fit for you.