Google and Microsoft have recently made big investments in two of the most valuable companies in artificial intelligence (AI). OpenAI, which develop ChatGPT, has receive a big investment of $10 billion (approx. Rs. 81,807 crore) from Microsoft and Google has invest $300 million (approx. Rs. 2,460 crore).
These companies financial support for AI has push an ongoing rivalry in to the public spotlight.
Google’s struggle for dominance with Microsoft is increasingly at the forefront of discussions about AI’s future success.
Google has made enormous contributions to the field of AI development, including the invention of transformers, a particular form of machine learning, where an algorithm improves at tasks as it is “trained” on data, the advancement of techniques for automating the translation of languages and the acquisition of AI company DeepMind.
As Google has consistently position itself at the forefront of AI development, a significant milestone was reach with the introduction of ChatGPT.
OpenAI release ChatGPT in November 2022 and a more advance version, GPT-4, was launch in February 2023.
The arrival of ChatGPT spark widespread discussion about artificial general intelligence (AGI), where machines surpass human intellect.
This was also the focus of warnings by Geoffrey Hinton, an influential figure in AI, who gave many interviews outlining his concerns about the technology after resigning from Google earlier 2023.
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The number of research papers focusing on large language models (LLMs), the type of AI technology ChatGPT is based on surge.
Other AI research areas, such as dialogue systems and information retrieval, stand to lose out.
After this rapid technological disruption, it seems that Google fears losing its technological edge and market dominance.
ChatGPT has made use of Google’s pioneering internet search techniques to generate significant profit.
The flow of talent from Google to OpenAI with the latter’s rapid growth has become a worrying trend for Google.
OpenAI, one of its principles was making software that was “open source”, where software is publicly available, allowing developers to share and modify it.
Google has maintain a relatively consistent commercial approach regarding its plans and ambitions.
So, OpenAI’s recent shift towards commercialism and close-source practices seems to contradict its original corporate philosophy.
Many industry insiders have criticise OpenAI for its somewhat contradictory posture.
While it presents itself as a bigg boss of open-source AI, it is undeniably a commercial entity, a fact it does not readily admit.
This tension between OpenAI’s public image and business realities has made the rivalry with Google even more intriguing.
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One of the outcome of this competition is the continue evolution and refinement of AI technology, spur by the need to stay ahead in the market.
Google’s techniques, once exploit by OpenAI for commercial gain, will probably undergo further innovation.
This evolution will not only enhance the functionality of AI applications, but also greatly improve user experiences.
Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president at Microsoft, recently said that the company didn’t feel it necessary to overhaul the search landscape, as even a single point increase in market share represented a USD 2 billion hike in value.
This strategic downsizing of their ambitions could be an attempt to lessen competitive pressures in the tech industry.
It’s worth to note that Microsoft’s association with OpenAI adds another layer to this rivalry.
Google has also shown a willingness to invest in external AI projects to extend its influence.
The company’s investment in Anthropic, an AI research company, reflects Google’s strategy to maintain its technological lead through strategic partnerships.
One concern which have with many people, is the potential for misinformation, disinformation and distortion create by ChatGPT.
With over 200 million users, it serves around 2.53% of the global population.
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Widespread disinformation on social media has significantly eroded trust in online content and reportedly influence the 2016 US presidential election.
With such a vast user base for ChatGPT, it is conceivable that tech companies could manipulate conversations, subtly swaying users preferences and decisions in numerous ways.
So, the need for stronger scrutiny and regulation of these large language models is becoming increasingly urgent.
Despite the growing competition over AI, Google remains a respect entity in the global tech industry.
The AI rivalry between Google and Microsoft has driven both companies to push the boundaries of this technology, promising exciting advancements in the years to come.
The various strategies employ in this competition, from talent acquisition to strategic investments, reflect the significance of the stakes in the AI landscape.
Mainly, acquiring top talent allows these companies to advance their AI capabilities, giving them a competitive edge.
Strategic investments allow for diversification and expansion into new AI applications and sectors, increasing their influence and market share in the AI field.
These actions underscore the high value and potential of AI technology in shaping our future.
Rahul Ram Dwivedi (RRD) is a senior journalist in 2YoDoINDIA.
NOTE : Views expressed are personal.
