Google has launched AI-powered chatbot, Bard, to rival ChatGPT, a similar chatbot launched by OpenAI last year.

Bard will be powered by an already existing large language called Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA), a breakthrough technology that can engage in free-flowing conversations.

AI chatbots are software designed to automatically conduct human-like online conversations via text or text-to-speech, with ChatGPT being at the front of the next new phase in technology advancement since November 2022.

According to Google boss Sundar Pichai, Bard is expected to be rolled out to the public when the initial testing phase is completed, with the lightweight model version of LaMDA being the first to be released.

The lightweight model, much smaller, would “require significantly less computing power, enabling us to scale to more users, allowing for more feedback.”

“Bard seeks to combine the breadth of the world’s knowledge with the power, intelligence, and creativity of our large language models,” wrote Mr Pichai in a blog.

He added, “It draws on information from the web to provide fresh, high-quality responses. Today we’re opening Bard up to trusted external testers.”

Google’s need to create its own AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT became urgent amid speculations Microsoft is close to introducing ChatGPT to its search engine Bing.

Microsoft is said to have invested multibillion-dollars in OpenAI, the owner of ChatGPT.

ChatGPT can carry out several tasks in a text-like form including generating speeches, song writing, marketing copy, news articles and student essays. It can also answer questions and carry out requests in real time using information available online.