Google’s generative AI chatbot, Bard, which recently expanded its reach to over 180 countries worldwide, will reportedly not be launching in the European Union (EU) as planned due to privacy concerns, according to a recent report.
The EU launch of Google Bard has been “postponed” following concerns raised by the Irish Data Protection Commission. Graham Doyle, the Deputy Commissioner of the Irish Data Protection Commission, revealed that Google had intended to introduce Bard in the EU this week, but this plan has been put on hold.
The Irish Data Protection Commission expressed reservations about the adequacy of privacy safeguards for EU citizens in relation to Bard. Consequently, the launch of Bard in the region has been delayed as the Irish regulator undertakes an “ongoing examination” of the matter. As a result, the anticipated launch of Bard this week will not materialize.
OpenAI, a key competitor to Google in this domain, has successfully introduced its own generative AI chatbot, ChatGPT, in the EU. However, OpenAI faced challenges as well. In May, the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, briefly considered withdrawing ChatGPT from the EU due to impending regulations, before ultimately retracting that statement. Furthermore, Microsoft’s Bing AI, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4, is currently accessible in Europe, but the EU has initiated a “task force” to investigate ChatGPT and other AI products.
In response to these developments, a Google spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to responsible deployment of Bard. They stated that Google aims to make Bard available in the EU after thorough engagement with experts, regulators, and policymakers. Currently, Google Bard is also unavailable in Canada.
(Note: The revised article is approximately half the length of the original while maintaining the key information and a professional tone.)