Demystifying Microsoft’s & Google’s Generative AI Tools For Management Professionals

"AI" was mentioned, on average, more than once every minute by Google presenters in its Google I/O Developer Conference, which just concluded in mid-may of 2023. This barrage of Google AI announcements comes after the steady flow of announcements from Microsoft over the past few months. If this has left you reeling and unable to keep track, you are not alone. Here's your super quick guide that puts it all together for you.

LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS

Large Language Models (LLMs) are the underlying computer systems on which Microsoft's and Google's Generative AI tools are built. Microsoft uses the GPT (Generative Pe-trained Transformer ) LLM developed by Open AI, while Google uses its own home-grown PaLM (Pathways Learning Model) LLM.

CODING

Microsoft's Github Copilot launched Github Copilot back in June of 2022, while Google just announced in mid-May of 2023 that Generative AI features will be coming to its Google Cloud and Android Coding Tools.

SEARCH

As with Coding tools, Microsoft is ahead of Google with LLM-based natural language responses already available in its Bing search website and mobile app. In contrast, in its mid-may Google I/O developer conference, Google announced that similar features would be coming to Google Search soon.

CHATBOT

Both Microsoft and Google have launched publicly available versions of general AI chatbots similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT. Microsoft's service is called Bing Chat, while Google's is Bard. Unlike ChatGPT, which has data only through 2021, Bing Chat and Bard include the latest data from the web in their responses.

OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY

Both Microsoft and Google have announced LLM and Generative AI functions for their office productivity software. Microsoft said in mid-may 2023 that its features are in Early Access release, an invitation-only, paid preview rolling out to an initial wave of 600 customers worldwide. Around the same time, Google announced at its Google I/O developer conference that it would bring generative AI features to its Google Workspace services, beginning with Gmail and Doc.