With the integration of ChatGPT technology into Microsoft Edge and the launch of Bing's new AI search, users are flocking to the waiting list. We took a closer look at the new Bing and can say: It is a step into the future of search, even if not everything is perfect. But the competition, Google, should start to worry.
Microsoft Edge browser required
Currently, Microsoft restricts its AI search to its own Edge browser. It does not work in Chrome or Firefox. It is quite possible that Microsoft will go all the way and not only poach Google search users, but also collect more traffic for Edge. On Windows 10 and 11 you already have Edge from the start, on other systems you have to upgrade it. However, if you install the development version of Edge, you can also park the new Bing in the sidebar and have it always at your fingertips, along with some pretty nifty extra features. More on that in a moment.
First impression: Intuitive, but sometimes slow
Overall, the chat is very simple to use. You can basically formulate questions as you would with a human conversation partner. Small buttons below the answer allow you to go into detail with a mouse click, i.e. to refine your search.
What stands out from the very first use is that after answering our question, the chatbot displays related questions. This feature is not only cool, but also very practical. It takes us deeper into a topic and shows us side aspects without us having to leave the chat.
Even if we have no idea about a topic at all, Bing helps us learn quickly and comprehensively in a single interface. The sources cited here are typically from the top three organic search results on Bing. However, a page may be in the top 3 but not be cited as a source.
This makes using Bing not only convenient, but also extremely efficient, since you don't even have to go to another page to get the results. However, chat feedback often takes a bit of time. We usually had to wait a few seconds for the chatbot to respond.
Current data situation - different from ChatGPT.
Bing Chat is extremely up-to-date and provides information about current events. This is not only convenient, but also extremely helpful when it comes to getting information quickly and easily. For example, unlike ChatGPT, which only has data through 2021, Bing already knows about Joe Biden's visit to Kiev and gives us background information about the reason for the visit.
Bot sometimes gets cheeky - request limit as a consequence
Since the answers of Bing's AI chat became more confused after longer chat rounds and the bot often became cheeky or harsh, Microsoft limited the number of chat rounds to five per session and 50 per day only at the beginning of the week. Now this limit has been raised to 60, and soon search queries will no longer be charged to the daily limit.
A glimpse into the future of search
What Microsoft is offering here could be the future of search, and also a glimpse of how we will create content using AI in the future. Of course, AI isn't perfect yet, but that will change over time. Bing's search technology with ChatGPT integration already shows the potential of combining AI and search capabilities.
Until now, Google has been the undisputed leader in search. But that may soon change. With its new ChatGPT integration, Microsoft Bing offers an innovative and unique search experience that is impressing many users. What's more, Bing has little to lose and currently has the best chance in a long time to steal market share from Mountain View's competition.
Creative writing help in the development version of Edge
By the way, the new Bing search does a lot more than just help you find things. It's also an extremely creative writing aid that will benefit any sluggish writer. All you have to do is install the developer version of Edge, go to the Compose tab, specify what you want to write about, choose a text style, and then specify the format and length. The AI then generates a draft that you can easily edit.
This is handy, but not a panacea, because AI text should still be proofread. Often there is a lot of crap in it. However, it is no substitute for a real technical editor, especially for more complex topics.
Our first interim conclusion
The new Bing with Chat AI technology and the integration of ChatGPT into the Edge browser offers a promising future for search. With innovative features such as the ability to display topic-related questions, as well as simple and efficient operation, Bing has the potential to become a serious competitor to Google.
Microsoft still has some kinks to work out to improve the user experience, but the new Bing is a promising development that we will continue to watch with interest. Just like the question: How will Google react now?