Google’s AI chatbot is available in 59 new countries starting today and speaks 43 new languages, reports Google. Including Dutch, but also German and many other European languages.

Bard has been tried by American consumers since March. Since then, Google has been adding new features to the chatbot step by step.

What can you do with it?

Bard, like Microsoft’s ChatGPT and Bing chatbot, is a chatbot that uses artificial intelligence to answer all kinds of questions. For example, you could ask the Bard to explain complex things, summarize articles on the internet, or help with coding.

Like other AI chat bots, Bard Google uses a language model. The language model has analyzed huge amounts of data to provide answers to the questions posed.

But just like the competition, Google is being careful, as Bard is still in its experimental phase, Google writes. And it clearly states that when you use a chatbot. So the answer he gives is probably factually wrong.

New features

As well as making it available in Europe, Google has also added a number of new options to the Bard. For example, the Bard can read what he wrote for you, it’s easier to share answers with others and now you can also share pictures with Google Bard.

You can then also use the subject of that image in your question. For example, Google shares an instance where you take a photo of a bottle of wine, where the Bard can then give you suggestions on which foods go best with your wine.

EU comes later: privacy concerns

Google launched its chatbot in February. First only for a select group of testers, then only in the United States and United Kingdom and in May much larger group of countries. Incredibly enough, the Netherlands and the EU didn’t get a turn.

According to Google, this is primarily to ensure that the chatbot will comply with “local rules”. Irish privacy watchdog DPC wants more clarity on how Google will comply with European privacy rules.

Google is now clearer about what usage data it uses. What you say to the Bard can be used to make the chatbot more accurate. For example, to prevent the error from being made a second time. And you can customize how long it stays in your Google account. You can turn it off or adjust it to 3 or 36 months. This setting is set to 18 months by default.

Concerns about AI chatbots

This can be seen as an adjustment of Google’s policies to comply with European privacy rules.

This is not the first time there have been privacy concerns about AI chatbots. OpenAI’s ChatGPT has come under fire in several European countries and there was even one in Italy in March temporary ban.