Chatbots supercharged with artificial intelligence are the next best thing to happen on the web since the introduction of search engines. Google understands this. This is the reason rolled out its Bard conversational generative artificial intelligence chatbot to compete with ChatGPT from OpenAI and Bing Chat or Copilot from Microsoft. Furthermore, to reposition better its chatbot and tie it better to its underlying large language model, Google also rebranded Bard into Gemini beginning on 8 February 2024.
From Search Engine to Chatbot: A Look Into the Advantages and Disadvantages of Gemini
Pros of Gemini: Notable Advantages and Applications
1. Built Based on Gemini
Gemini was upgraded from the PaLM large language model to the Gemini model on 6 December 2023. This multimodal LLM rivals and even somewhat outperform the GPT-4 model from OpenAI. It was trained using a large dataset, various and specific natural language processing tasks and use cases, and has an estimated to have 30 trillion parameters. This equips Bard with generative and problem-solving capabilities similar to ChatGPT and Copilot.
2. Human-Like Conversations
A notable advantage of Gemini is that it can understand prompts entered through text or speech using natural language and even generate human-like conversations. This chatbot can answer queries and respond to instructions. It is similar to virtual assistants such as Google Assistant or Siri from Apple but its conversational capabilities are comparable to ChatGPT and Copilot because it is based on natural language processing and a large language model.
3. Specific Generative Capabilities
Text generation is one of the core features of this chatbot. It can produce texts in different styles and formats including news articles, blog posts, letters, and email messages. It is also capable of creative writing. This chatbot can also translate languages with near-human accuracy. It can be used as a question-and-answer platform or for helping with reasoning or creative thinking. Gemini can also generate and debug codes in different programming languages.
4. Real-Time Access to Websites
Another advantage of Gemini is that it has access to the web. It can access and process information from the real world through Google Search while keeping its responses consistent with search results. This can be useful in doing quick research because it has real-time access to up-to-date information similar to Copilot. Take note that the free version of ChatGPT does not have real-time access to the web nor does it have the most updated information.
5. Extensions Through Plugins
The capabilities or features of this chatbot can also be extended using plugins. The specific Spotify plugin allows users to control the streaming platform from within the chatbot while the YouTube plugin enables watching YouTube videos from within the same chat interface. The TripAdvisor plugin is helpful for searching and booking travel accommodations and the Adobe Firefly enables this chatbot to generate images using prompts.
Cons of Gemini: Notable Disadvantages and Limitations
1. Biases, Inaccuracies, and Ambiguities
Chatbots can provide biased or inaccurate information. This is one of the biggest disadvantages of Gemini. The dataset used to train its model can still include biased data. It is also not always accurate or its response can be misleading or outdated. Another disadvantage of this chatbot is that it can hallucinate and produce vague responses to prompts. It does not always understand the context of a question and can sometimes produce irrelevant responses.
2. Notable Creative Limitations
This chatbot is also not always creative. Remember that it can provide ambiguous responses or answers that are not relevant to the questions. Some of its responses can be unoriginal or repetitive. It is also important to underscore the fact that it can lack original thinking because of its creative limitations. This means that it can generate creative texts such as poems or lyrics to songs that are similar to other works that were produced before.
3. Does Not Cite or Link Back to Sources
Gemini can be used for research purposes because it can generate information or relevant answers to specific questions. However, when used for trailing, users should be cautious. It does not cite its sources nor does it provide links to supposed factual statements unless explicitly prompted, unlike Copilot. Google encourages users to validate the information that its chatbot is providing. Gemini cannot be a standalone tool for research purposes.
4. Notable Inconsistencies in Responses
The chatbot was asked if it can analyze documents. The first answer explained that it can analyze an entire document and the user only has to send it the particular file. However, when asked how a user can send a file or if it has an option for uploading a document, it explained that it does not accept documents and it does not have the ability to read and understand documents. This is true for long-form content. Inconsistency is another disadvantage of Gemini.
5. Limited Generative Capabilities
ChatGPT has become popular for its extensive generative capabilities. This is especially true for the paid ChatGPT Plus version which uses the GPT-4 language model. Gemini has creative capabilities but it has limitations that also restrict its generative capabilities. It would have a hard time writing long-form articles, producing lengthy works of fiction, generating detailed graphs, producing longer codes, and solving complex mathematical problems.