The rapid progress of artificial intelligence (AI) models developed by OpenAI has reportedly caused concern among Google’s management. According to the New York Times, the company has issued an internal “code red” in response to the growing popularity of OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT and image generator Dall-E.
The Threat of ChatGPT
ChatGPT’s ability to hold natural conversations and generate text on a wide range of subjects has the potential to disrupt Google’s search dominance.
Indeed, instead of searching the internet for answers, users may turn to ChatGPT for quick and accurate responses to their questions.
This could be particularly appealing for tasks such as finding recipes or developing business strategies, which require a conversational interface rather than a traditional search engine such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
Google’s Response to ChatGPT
Faced with the perceived threat of ChatGPT and the rapid advancement of AI potentially killing search engines and SEO, Google CEO Sundar Pichai has reportedly held meetings to redefine the company’s priorities in this area.
According to a memo and audio recording reviewed by The New York Times, several Google departments, including Research, Trust, and Safety, have had their work rearranged to focus on AI research.
Employees have been tasked with developing AI models similar to OpenAI’s Dall-E, which can generate an image based on a single line of text.
This shift in focus comes ahead of a major conference on AI in May 2023.
Google’s Previous Approach to AI
Until now, Google has been cautious about implementing AI in its services due to the potential for negative biases and the dissemination of false or harmful information.
Instead, the company has preferred to focus on improving existing technologies, such as search algorithms and machine learning.
However, the growing popularity of ChatGPT and Dall-E has prompted Google to accelerate its AI efforts in order to remain competitive.
Google’s “code red” in response to the popularity of OpenAI’s AI models indicates the company’s recognition of the potential threat they pose to its dominance in the tech industry.
While Google has traditionally been cautious about implementing AI, the rapid progress of ChatGPT and Dall-E has prompted the company to accelerate its efforts in order to remain competitive.
As the use of AI continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see how Google adapts and responds to this changing landscape.