So I got access to Microsoft’s new Bing. Since I’ve been using ChatGPT for a while, I thought it made sense to join the early preview waiting list for the much touted AI-powered Bing.
Being loyal to Google, I’ve never felt the need for a new non-Google search engine or a non-Chrome browser. However, after experiencing the power of AI through ChatGPT and several other content generation tools like CopyAI, I was curious to see how Microsoft would implement AI in its Bing search engine.
How to sign up for the new Microsoft Bing Preview
Microsoft’s new Bing is not GA-ed yet. However, if you are interested, you can join the Bing Early View Waitlist powered by ChatGPT by registering at this link. The basic requirement is a Microsoft profile, which you can create if you don’t already have one. Microsoft approved my access to the new Bing in less than two weeks.
With my consent, I had to find out how quickly I would be able to access all the features and benefits of the new AI-powered search engine.
Microsoft Edge integration
One of the key aspects of the new Bing is its integration with Edge, Microsoft’s most advanced browser. So the first thing I had to do was download Microsoft Edge on my MacBook Air. Unlike some posts I’ve read, I didn’t have to set Microsoft Edge as my default browser to start using the new Bing.
The next step can be a bit confusing. Microsoft Edge’s default homepage is not set to Bing. You can just search bing.com from Edge and set it as your homepage in the settings/appearance tab.
So how is the new Bing different from other browsers like Chrome and Safari?
ChatGPT Integration
The Bing integration with ChatGPT is a differentiator. You can read non-technical post about ChatGPT here.
In addition to the search features offered by traditional search engines, Bing now includes a chat feature in its search results. As a result, when you use Bing to search for information or ask questions, you will receive answers generated by ChatGPT. Instead of a set of relevant links, the AI chatbot provides answers to queries in a conversational tone. The new Bing also remembers context, allowing follow-up questions and add-on searches.
What do I think about the new Bing?
If you have tried ChatGPT, you will find similarities to Bing. With customized queries, you can force Bing to craft content such as emails, blog outlines, and other articles based on its text prediction capabilities.
The significant difference between ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Bing is that the ChatGPT dataset is not up-to-date. The reliability of its responses to events after September 2021 may not be accurate or factually inaccurate. Thanks to the search functionality, Bing can provide more up-to-date results.
For mobile users, the new Bing is fully optimized for mobile devices and provides a seamless experience across all platforms.
Microsoft disrupted the search engine landscape by being the first to market with an AI-powered search engine and browser. However, it’s early days for Bing. Microsoft reminds you that content generated by artificial intelligence can often be inaccurate. To enable continuous improvement, Bing provides feedback when incomplete or incorrect results are found.
The promise of search and chat integrated with artificial intelligence is undeniable. Bard of Google, Goal Cicero, and others are in active development and will provide users with more choice. With the launch of the ChatGPT API, progressive companies can now develop more content for non-chat based applications faster and cheaper. You can see some examples here.
Bottom line: After years of being a loyal Google user, Microsoft persuaded me to download Edge and use Bing.
Do I need to say more?
