Google open Bards in 180 countries | | | | Turtles AI

  Google announced the expansion of its #AI #chatbot #Bard to over 180 countries at its I/O #conference this week. However, the #EU and #Canada will apparently not be among those getting access to the new chatbot. The announcement comes as safety concerns over AI are growing in the Western world. Google touted Bard's expansion during the two-hour I/O keynote event, but it later emerged that the EU and Canada were left out. Google VP Sissie Hsiao said the goal was to "get Bard into more people's hands." However, the omission of major Western markets suggests a deliberate decision by Google. AI safety watchdog groups and governments in the EU and Canada have expressed worries over data privacy, bias, transparency and misinformation related to chatbots like Bard. The EU is moving forward with new regulations aimed at reining in generative AI and protecting copyright. Several EU nations have also launched their own probes into chatbots. Canada has also launched investigations into AI privacy issues. One reason for Google's decision could be to avoid potential legal battles in the EU and Canada over Bard. Even Google CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted misinformation and trustworthiness as key challenges for AI today. So, at least for now, it seems Google has decided to hold off on launching Bard in markets where scrutiny over AI is particularly stringent.