Comparing ChatGPT to Google is like comparing a chef to a vending machine. Both are designed to give you something to consume, but one is able to create unique, personalized dishes while the other simply dispenses pre-packaged items. (We hear the vending machines at Google are amazing) In this blog post, we’ll explore three important distinctions between ChatGPT and Google, and why they make all the difference.
Purpose:
When a company name becomes a verb, a certain status is awarded. The founders are usually billionaires but more importantly, you’ve reached a mass adoption that founders dream of. To “google” something officially became a verb in 2006. And as much as it pains you to hear your parents get on their “google machine” it’s the standard for internet information.
But that is exactly what it is, an internet search engine. Its main function is to retrieve information from the web and present it to you in a way that’s easy to read and understand. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is designed to have conversations with people. It’s like having your own personal chatbot that can help you with a variety of tasks, from answering questions to making jokes.
Think of it this way: if Google is a librarian, then ChatGPT is your best friend who’s always there to chat with you. The librarian can help you find the information you need, but they’re not going to be as engaging or entertaining as your friend.
Input:
Another key difference between ChatGPT and Google is the way they process input. Google relies on keywords and phrases to understand what you’re looking for. You type in a search query, and Google uses its algorithms to find the best results based on those keywords.
ChatGPT, on the other hand, is designed to understand natural language. That means you can ask questions or make statements in a more conversational way, without having to worry about using the right keywords. For example, you could ask ChatGPT “What is the capital of France.” A more interesting prompt would be, “I’m considering a trip to France and want to visit the capitol, what are the must see sites?” And you could continue to ask follow up questions in this conversation.
This is a big advantage for ChatGPT, as it makes it much easier for people to interact with it. You don’t have to worry about using the right keywords or phrases, and you can ask questions or make statements in a way that feels natural to you.
Personality:
The AI has a personality you say? Oh yea. But not in the way you might say “I don’t really care for Kim Kardashian’s personality”
One of the biggest differences between ChatGPT and Google is the personality of the two tools. Google is pretty straightforward and professional. You input information and it returns information from the internet.
ChatGPT, on the other hand, has a bit of personality. Not like personal identity or consciousness. (Yet) But it’s designed to be conversational and engaging. It can simulate a personality by using varying tones, adapting to different conversational styles, and even generating responses that may resemble those of a particular character or persona. Like, “Tell me to go to bed as if you’re Ray Liotta’s character from Goodfellas.” (RIP).
One key thing to note – early versions of ChatGPT were not connected to the internet. Meaning the responses were only as good as the information that was used to train the model up to a certain date.
As of this writing, OpenAI released a beta version (beta for you non-techies is the second phase of software testing in which a sampling of the intended audience tries the product out) that has a web browsing plugin. Meaning ChatGPT can now go to the internet to search for answers it may not have in the model. Game changing. Mic drop. HODL. (Hold On For Dear Life)