Google’s AI Chatbot Bard Causes $100 Billion Market Loss With Incorrect James Webb Telescope Answer

Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have been making waves in the tech industry, and with Microsoft-backed ChatGPT leading the pack, others like Google have followed suit.

However, a recent incident involving Google's AI chatbot, Bard, has raised questions about the credibility of the tech company's attempt at AI-driven chatbot technology.

During a live-streamed event, Bard was asked about new discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope that a 9-year-old could learn about. Space.com tells us that the AI provided two correct answers; however, it also included a significant error by claiming that JWST had taken the first-ever images of exoplanets. In actuality, the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory was the first to record an image of an exoplanet in 2004.

Google's Bard Loses 100 Billion Market Value

Google's mistake has had serious consequences, as it caused Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, to lose $100 billion in market value, Reuters reports.

With volumes nearly three times the 50-day moving average, Alphabet shares also declined during regular trading, down as much as 9%. After hours, they had roughly flattened their losses.

People are concerned that Google is losing steam in the face of the ongoing popularity of OpenAI's ChatGPT. The Microsoft-backed AI chatbot has amassed 100 million users just two months after launch, generating a lot of buzz.

The day before Google's blunder, Microsoft announced that a version of Bing that would work with some of ChatGPT's features would be available. Bing will now do more than just provide a list of search results as a result of the integration. It will now answer questions, talk with users, and make content in response to their requests.

We Asked ChatGPT the Same Question

When asked the same question about the James Webb Space Telescope's discoveries (simplified for a 9-year-old), ChatGPT provided a more correct and creative, albeit general, response, emphasizing the telescope's ability to search for and study exoplanets, observe the birth of stars and galaxies, study dark matter and dark energy, and search for signs of life.

"I hope these discoveries sound exciting to your 9-year-old and spark their curiosity about space and the universe!" the chatbot wrote.

ChatGPT recently gained attention for its ability to pass an MBA exam with a B/B grade. ChatGPT excels at answering basic operations management and process analysis case study questions and can expand on those answers.

Meanwhile, the chatbot's knowledge is limited to events that happen in 2021, and it has been proven that ChatGPT struggles with accounting (evident from CNET's AI-written articles) and entry rocket science (National Public Radio testing).

The Google incident serves as a reminder of AI technology's potential and limitations. While artificial intelligence chatbots such as ChatGPT have made significant breakthroughs, it is critical to ensure that the information they provide is accurate and credible. This is especially important in fields such as science and technology, where incorrect information can have serious consequences.

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