Google Bard Chatbot Receives Global Release of Gemini Pro Update

Google has officially announced that its Bard chatbot is now globally powered by the Gemini Pro model, offering support for over 40 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.

In December, Google introduced its generative AI models featuring the flagship Gemini Ultra, alongside the “lite” Gemini Pro and Gemini Nano, designed for devices like the Pixel 8. During this launch, Bard was also updated with Gemini Pro for enhanced conversations in English. Although Google did not specify the exact improvements, the company stated that the chatbot would significantly enhance its capabilities in understanding and summarizing content, reasoning, brainstorming, writing, and planning.

Bard has evolved through several updates behind the scenes. Initially unveiled in February 2023 with the LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications), it was later upgraded to the PaLM 2 model. Now, with Gemini Pro, Bard will be accessible in over 230 countries, adding to the confusion surrounding the various names and versions.

In September, Google introduced the “Double Check” feature, using Google Search to verify the accuracy of Bard's responses. This feature was initially limited to English but is now expanding to support the same 40-plus languages.

Furthermore, Google is rolling out image generation capabilities through the Imagen 2 model, launched in December. Users can prompt the chatbot with requests like “create an image of a futuristic car,” although this feature is currently available only in English.

Images created by Bard will include a SynthID digital watermark, developed by DeepMind, embedded within the pixels. To identify these images, users will need to utilize Google’s tools.

In October, Google integrated Bard's AI capabilities into Google Assistant, allowing users to plan trips or create grocery lists more efficiently. By November, Bard was made available in English for teenagers, featuring safeguards that prevent the chatbot from generating unsafe content, including illegal or age-restricted materials.