Google Bard is still making its way onto the AI scene, and Alphabet seems to be surprisingly slow in throwing its hat into the ring. ChatGPT has been around for quite some time now, and it’s not clear why Alphabet has taken so long to catch up. One would expect this tech giant to be among the first to implement new AI functionality, especially given its leadership role in developing the technology throughout the years. Unfortunately, it seems that Google Bard is arriving at precisely the wrong time – during a period when scam artists are well-prepared to take advantage of the AI craze. This has led to a troubled launch, to say the very least, and Alphabet is now filing numerous lawsuits in an effort to pave the way for Bard.

What Is Bard?

Bard is Google’s AI platform – its answer to new arrivals like ChatGPT and Bing Chat. While Google reminds everyone that Bard is still in the “experimental stage,” it has already shown tremendous potential for a wide range of applications. At its core, Bard is a chat service – just like ChatGPT. You can talk to Bard, ask it questions, and even tell it to do things. Powered by Google’s proprietary large language model (LLM) PaLM 2, the chatbot was first unveiled in 2023. This is seen as a daring move by the tech giant, as virtually all major chatbots run on the GPT system.

In essence, Google is carving out its own place in the AI world with a completely different system – and this is why the company is currently dealing with so many legal issues. The obvious question among AI enthusiasts today is simple: Should you use ChatGPT or Bard? The general consensus is that while ChatGPT is better suited to content generation, Bard is specifically built for research. Both tools may prove crucial as we approach an AI-powered future.

 Will the Real Bard Please Stand Up?

Google is having a difficult time launching Bard, mostly because of the almost innumerable scams that have popped up around the new AI chatbot. Like vultures to a fresh carcass, many fraudsters sense an opportunity with the arrival of such a major player in the tech world. The main issue seems to be fake apps claiming to be Bard. When users download these apps, however, they experience an influx of malware into their devices and nothing else.

This has left Google with no other choice but to file numerous lawsuits against those responsible. The only problem is that many of these scammers are nowhere to be found, and it is unclear whether these lawsuits will actually achieve anything. In at least one case, however, Google has actually succeeded in locating a group of hackers responsible for a Bard-related scam.

The scam is relatively straightforward. Social media users stumble across a fake ad detailing Bard’s many features. The ad contains a link that claims to trigger a download of Bard. However, the real purpose of the link is to download malware on the user’s device and steal login credentials. Scammers are impersonating not only Bard but also ChatGPT.

Google reminds users that there is no need to download Bard in the first place. Bard exists on the cloud, which means that you can use it by simply visiting a web page. The same is true with ChatGPT. Unfortunately, AI is such a new concept that many people are completely unaware of this fact, and they might be misled into thinking that a download is necessary to use AI software like Bard or ChatGPT. Problems like this are virtually inevitable when dealing with any new technology today.

Google’s legal teams are working overtime to address scams surrounding Bard. One report states that since April, 300 fraudulent domains have been taken down so far as a result of this ongoing legal battle. While this represents a major and costly undertaking for the tech giant, they certainly have the resources to spare. In addition, the company claims that this will be worth the effort in the long run, as this legal action could “serve as a deterrent and provide a clear mechanism for preventing similar scams in the future.”

Google Promises to Provide Legal Services for those Accused of AI Copyright Issues

Google is also setting the legal framework to protect users against AI-related copyright lawsuits. In a blog post, the tech giant promised: “If you are challenged on copyright grounds, we will assume responsibility for the potential legal risks involved.” Make no mistake: Google wouldn’t be making this statement if there wasn’t a possibility of such lawsuits actually happening. Google has access to some of the best legal teams in the nation, and they have probably studied this issue extensively.

This presents interesting implications for the future of AI in a number of ways. Google’s willingness to protect its users against potential lawsuits is a bold move, and it represents a kind of legal insurance offered to those willing to try AI-powered tools for commercial purposes. Here’s another important thing to note: Google specifically excluded Bard from this level of legal protection. This means that there is sufficient reason to believe that Bard users may encounter copyright issues in the near future – issues that Google wants absolutely nothing to do with.

Get in Touch with a Tech Lawyer Today

Software launches can be difficult – whether you’re starting a new AI platform, a mobile game, or something completely different. As the launch of Google Bard shows, tech companies may encounter all kinds of legal issues as they launch new software. A tech lawyer may prove to be a genuine asset during these initial stages, and they can provide numerous legal solutions for problems posed by scam artists, copyright infringement, fake ads, and much more. To discuss best legal practices during a software launch, do not hesitate to book a consultation with John P. O’Brien, Technology Lawyer today.