Revolution in search engines: Microsoft introduces updated Bing powered by ChatGPT chatbot-based AI

Microsoft and OpenAI have introduced the Bing search engine’s updated version which is “armed” with artificial intelligence (AI), built on the basis of the ChatGPT chatbot.

AI is expected to take this web search service to a whole new level, not only providing more complete answers to user queries, but also enabling content creation.

Microsoft itself calls this AI the "copilot" when “traveling” on the web. Bing, built on the ChatGPT chatbot, will be introduced in new versions of Microsoft's Edge browser, and later also in Windows 11 operating system, where it will become an AI assistant for all users.

“AI will fundamentally change every software category, starting with the largest category of all—search,” said Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft. “Today, we’re launching Bing and Edge powered by AI copilot and chat, to help people get more from search and the web.”

According to Microsoft, the new Bing search and the new Edge browser will have the following features:

Better search. The new Bing gives you an improved version of the familiar search experience, providing more relevant results for simple things like sports scores, stock prices and weather, along with a new sidebar that shows more comprehensive answers if you want them.

Complete answers. Bing reviews results from across the web to find and summarize the answer you’re looking for. For example, you can get detailed instructions for how to substitute eggs for another ingredient in a cake you are baking right in that moment, without scrolling through multiple results.

A new chat experience. For more complex searches—such as for planning a detailed trip itinerary or researching what TV to buy—the new Bing offers new, interactive chat. The chat experience empowers you to refine your search until you get the complete answer you are looking for by asking for more details, clarity and ideas—with links available so you can immediately act on your decisions.

A creative spark. There are times when you need more than an answer – you need inspiration. The new Bing can generate the content to help you. It can help you write an email, create a 5-day itinerary for a dream vacation to Hawaii, with links to book your travel and accommodations, prep for a job interview or create a quiz for trivia night. The new Bing also cites all its sources, so you’re able to see links to the web content it references.

New Microsoft Edge experience. We’ve updated the Edge browser with new AI capabilities and a new look, and we’ve added two new functionalities: Chat and compose. With the Edge Sidebar, you can ask for a summary of a lengthy financial report to get the key takeaways – and then use the chat function to ask for a comparison to a competing company’s financials and automatically put it in a table. You can also ask Edge to help you compose content, such as a LinkedIn post, by giving it a few prompts to get you started. After that, you can ask it to help you update the tone, format and length of the post. Edge can understand the web page you’re on and adapts accordingly.

The updated Bing is now available to users—but still in a limited initial version only for PC computers.