Microsoft Revamps Bing and Edge with AI
Microsoft is placing a major bet on artificial intelligence with its updated Bing search engine and Edge web browser, both of which appear to have exclusive access to the successor to OpenAI’s successful ChatGPT large language model.
For the moment time, the new AI is unidentified, just described in a blog post as follows:
…A new, next-generation OpenAI large language model that is more powerful than ChatGPT and customized specifically for search. It takes key learnings and advancements from ChatGPT and GPT-3.5 – and it is even faster, more accurate and more capable.
Customized for Search
“Customized particularly for search” was repeated by numerous executives at the Microsoft event, so it must be some agreed-upon terminology that doesn’t over-commit the model’s capabilities one way or the other.
They did label it a “new big language model,” however how much of an improvement it is over OpenAI’s prior ones is unclear. GPT-4 was suspected, although that nomenclature has yet to be utilised. I’ve approached OpenAI for further information and will update if I hear back.
Microsoft’s Focus on Scaling
Microsoft’s emphasis on scaling seems sensible, especially given that it will undoubtedly be paying for the servers and compute.
The huge computing power needed to run such big models is one of its downsides, which has forced many potential ChatGPT users to wait a few minutes before starting a session.
AI-Powered Bing and Prometheus Safety System
The AI-powered Bing is accessed directly through a standard search interface and is protected by a Microsoft-developed security solution they call Prometheus, in contrast to ChatGPT and the other GPT models.
In spite of the fact that Prometheus was a deity of knowledge and cunning, he also famously endured unending suffering while chained to a rock with a large bird perpetually gnawing at his insides. We can only hope Bing doesn’t have the same fate.
After today’s event at Microsoft’s headquarters, additional information on the new Bing and the AI model that drives it will be available.