Google Bard: First Look and Honest Review
Google finally launched Bard. After months of hype (and a rocky demo), it’s available in the US and UK.
Was it worth the wait?
What is Bard?
Bard is Google’s answer to ChatGPT. It’s a conversational AI that can answer questions, help with writing, code, and more.
Key differences from ChatGPT:
- Connected to the internet (real-time information)
- Powered by Google’s PaLM 2 model
- Free to use
- Integrated with Google services (eventually)
What Works Well
Internet Access
Unlike ChatGPT (free version), Bard knows what happened yesterday. Ask about recent news, current stock prices, or today’s weather. It knows.
Google Integration
Bard can pull information from Google Search, Maps, and other services. “Find me flights to Tokyo next month” actually works.
Response Speed
Bard is fast. Noticeably faster than ChatGPT-4. For quick questions, this matters.
Multiple Drafts
Every response shows alternative versions. If the first answer isn’t quite right, check the other drafts.
What Doesn’t Work Well
Accuracy
Bard makes mistakes. Sometimes confident mistakes. Google’s own demo had an error. Trust but verify.
Writing Quality
ChatGPT writes better prose. Bard’s outputs feel more mechanical, more “AI-sounding.”
Code Assistance
For coding help, ChatGPT is still superior. Bard can help but makes more errors.
Limited Memory
Bard doesn’t remember previous conversations. Every chat starts fresh.
Bard vs ChatGPT: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Bard | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free / $20 Plus |
| Internet access | Yes | No (free) / Yes (Plus) |
| Writing quality | Good | Better |
| Speed | Fast | Moderate |
| Code help | Decent | Excellent |
| Conversation memory | No | Yes |
Should You Switch?
Use Bard for:
- Questions needing current information
- Quick fact lookups
- Google-integrated tasks
- When ChatGPT is down
Stick with ChatGPT for:
- Writing projects
- Code assistance
- Complex reasoning
- Longer conversations
Our Verdict
Bard is a solid v1. It’s not better than ChatGPT, but it’s not trying to be identical either.
The internet access is genuinely useful. The Google integration will matter more as it expands.
For now: Use both. They have different strengths.
What’s Next
Google is moving fast. They’ve announced:
- Bard in Google Workspace
- Image generation coming
- More language support
We’ll keep testing as Bard evolves.
First impressions on a new tool. Our opinions may change as we use it more.