Google’s Bard: Accesses Your Personal Data and Fact Checks Itself

Bard’s Enhanced Reach:

First introduced by Google in February, Bard initially extracted answers solely from the web. The recent integration allows Bard to scan your personal Gmail, Docs, and Drive to streamline tasks like summarizing an email or emphasizing crucial points in a document. Jack Krawczyk, Bard’s product lead, told The Verge that users can now make queries such as “Check my email for information about my upcoming flight.”

Beyond Gmail, Docs, and Drive, the chatbot now interfaces with Google Maps, YouTube, and Flights. This paves the way for users to seek real-time flight updates, discover attractions nearby, and even source YouTube content related to specific topics.

While these developments prompt privacy concerns, Google assures that it won’t exploit the data to train Bard’s global model. Moreover, Google has implemented a user consent model, meaning Bard’s access to these integrations remains optional and can be disabled whenever the user wishes.

Bard Extensions: The Future of Collaboration:

These integrations, termed as “Bard Extensions”, enhance the utility of Bard by bridging multiple Google applications. For instance, Krawczyk illustrated how Bard could seamlessly merge details from an email, flight bookings, and itinerary development for a trip to the Grand Canyon. Such abilities are poised to change how users interact with their emails, especially when searching for specific details.

Krawczyk highlighted another use case where Bard helps him navigate emails from his child’s school, summarizing essential messages and identifying forms that require his attention. This move is all about convenience, as Bard Extensions aims to allow users access to various apps from a singular point.

Ensuring Accuracy with Double-Check:

Alongside these extensions, Google has rolled out a “double-check” feature for Bard. This mechanism allows users to validate Bard’s responses by cross-referencing them with Google Search. Responses aligned with the search results get highlighted in green, whereas contradictory ones turn orange. Any non-highlighted segments indicate that Google couldn’t validate the chatbot’s answer, neither confirming nor debunking its accuracy.

Looking Forward:

While the Bard Extensions and double-check feature are currently available only in English and for consumer versions of Google apps, expansion plans are underway. Krawczyk revealed Google’s intention to integrate Bard with enterprise applications. With Bard’s continued evolution, it’s evident Google is heavily investing in advancing its AI prowess, aiming to make its chatbot seamlessly integrated into users’ daily lives while ensuring the information provided is as accurate as possible.

Sources:

Yahoo Finance

The Verge