Bing Chat

What is Bing chat?

Bing chat" is a chat mode integrated into the Microsoft Bing search engine. It differs from the traditional search engine, Bing, in that it allows users to obtain information in a conversational format. Bing chat can provide information in response to questions or requests, or simply enjoy a conversation.

In addition, Bing chat can make suggestions tailored to the user's needs and interests through conversations with the user. This allows users to get more in-depth information.

Benefits of Bing chat

There are two main advantages of Bing chat.

1. real-time performance
2. fewer usage restrictions

One of the features of Bing chat is its real-time nature. Bing chat can provide up-to-date and accurate information using web searches, rather than responding from pre-trained data. This is what differentiates it from Chat GPT, the most popular interactive AI.

Currently, it also has the following limitations: a Microsoft account is required, Microsoft Edge browser only, a maximum of 2,000 characters per question, and 20 turns per conversation, or 200 turns per day (as of the end of March 2023).

The turn limits are gradually being relaxed as follows

1. up to 5 turns per session, up to 50 turns per day
2. 6 turns per session, 60 turns per day
3. 10 turns per session, 120 turns per day
4. 15 turns per session, 150 turns per day

Given that the system has been greatly eased in the two months or so since its release in February 2023, it may be released enough to be used all day in the future.

Disadvantages of Bing chat

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of Bing chat is that the service does not save conversations.

Since interactive AI is more likely to generate appropriate responses by reading the context of back and forth relationships, having a history of conversations about a single topic or series of tasks can improve the accuracy of responses.

However, once a conversation is deleted, Bing chat cannot be restored, and only one conversation can be retained at a time, so it is not possible to keep or review the history.

Another disadvantage of Bing chat is that it is "Microsoft bound," requiring a Microsoft account and the Microsoft Edge browser to use Bing chat.

Both are free, but if you use a different browser than you normally use, you may find it somewhat difficult to use.

Bing chat pricing plan and billing system

As of April 2023, Bing chat is released as one of the features of the completely free Bing service, so it is completely free to use.

However, Bing Chat Enterprise, which will run stand-alone and be available to corporate customers, will be available for $5 per user (no additional charge for Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard, and Business Premium users). Bing Chat Enterprise will be available at no additional charge to Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard and Business Premium users.

With Bing Chat Enterprise, "user and business data will be protected and will not be leaked outside the organization. Both input and output data are protected, chats are not stored, and Microsoft does not have access to them. The data will not be used to train models" and the service is a commercial data protection addition to the existing Bing chat.