Google Launches Arabic Version Of AI Chat Tool Bard

Alphabet, the company in charge of Google’s extensive suite of products, has launched an Arabic version of its artificial intelligence platform, Bard. The tool now contains updates to address Arabic speakers’ unique needs amid the search giant’s increasing rivalry with Microsoft and its infamous ChatGPT platform.

The conversational AI tool can understand questions in 16 colloquial Arabic dialects, including Egyptian, Emirati, and Saudi. However, the AI chatbot will provide answers in classical Arabic, Google execs explained at a Dubai press briefing.

“Bard will be available in the Arabic language across all corners of the Arab world as part of its global launch in 40 other languages,” announced Najeeb Jarrar, regional director of marketing for Google MENA.

Bard in Arabic now features a user interface supporting the language’s right-to-left script. At the same time, users can also input questions in several languages simultaneously, helping both bilingual speakers and novice language students.

“A big team of Google’s engineers and linguist experts worked together over the last months so that the product, Bard, will not just be a translation […] but a product that matches our use in the Arabic language,” said Marwa Khost, Google’s communications manager for MENA.

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When asked whether the relatively limited volume of Arabic online content would affect the depth of Bard’s responses, Google explained that the AI platform could source material from the wider online landscape and translate it into a user’s preferred language. The search company’s execs also noted that the amount of Arabic content had grown and diversified exponentially in recent years.

The launch of Bard in Arabic comes as the AI tool is rolled out across 59 new regions and countries, including Brazil and most of Europe. The latest expansion means Bard is available in 46 languages and 239 countries and territories.