In the fast-paced realm of search technology, it’s not unusual for tech companies to continuously refine their products. Microsoft, a pioneer in the tech industry, has silently rolled out an update to Bing Chat’s Precise Mode. The news was subtly confirmed by Mikhail Parakhin, CEO of Advertising and Web Services at Microsoft, via a tweet. While the update doesn’t introduce any new features, it promises “just better answers.”
Finished rolling out a pretty big update in our Precise mode of Bing Chat – no new features, just better answers. A few people noticed, in a "Creative has gotten worse – now even Precise is better" form, of course 🙂 Give it a try!
— Mikhail Parakhin (@MParakhin) September 25, 2023
A Brief Background on Bing Chat
Before diving into the update, let’s take a step back and look at what Bing Chat offers. Launched earlier in February 2023, Bing Chat aims to revolutionize the search experience by making it more interactive. Equipped with advanced natural language understanding and generation technologies, Bing Chat can handle anything from factual queries to creative requests.
Earlier this month, Microsoft introduced key features like seamless integration with Microsoft Launcher on Android devices and a “Continue on Your Phone” option. These features help streamline the user experience, enabling people to get summarized answers and creative inspiration without the need for separate apps or web pages.
The Stealth Update
In his tweet, Parakhin mentioned that the update was aimed at improving the quality of answers in Precise Mode. “Finished rolling out a pretty big update in our Precise mode of Bing Chat – no new features, just better answers,” he stated. The tweet suggests a focus on refining the algorithm for better accuracy, which is a vital aspect for any search-related tool.
When asked about the underlying technology for Precise Mode, Parakhin confirmed that it’s still powered by GPT-4, a cutting-edge natural language processing model. This aligns with Bing Chat’s previous capabilities, which also offer specialized modes such as Balanced and Creative to tailor responses according to user needs.
User Reactions and Future Developments
The community has started to notice the changes, albeit in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek manner. “Creative has gotten worse – now even Precise is better,” tweeted one user, highlighting the noticeable improvements in Precise Mode.
Moreover, Parakhin hinted at ongoing developments related to Bing Chat’s ability to automatically switch between Creative and Precise Modes based on the nature of the user’s query. “Actually, we are making steady progress, but still not there – don’t want to increase the overall latency,” he responded when asked about this feature.
What Does This Mean for Users?
The stealth update to Precise Mode indicates Microsoft’s commitment to delivering a superior search experience through Bing Chat. While the update may not introduce new features, it focuses on fine-tuning the existing ones for better performance. Given the technological prowess behind Bing Chat, this subtle change could significantly impact the overall user experience in a positive way.
Final Thoughts
The quiet yet impactful update to Bing Chat’s Precise Mode showcases Microsoft’s dedication to iterative development. By continually refining their product, Microsoft aims to make Bing Chat an indispensable tool for those who seek a more interactive and personalized search experience. With ongoing updates and community feedback, Bing Chat is on a promising trajectory for further enhancements. Keep an eye out for what Microsoft has in store for this intriguing product.
