Observed Signal · Sep 20, 2023 · Technical Release · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Google Bard Now Supports Plugins
Google has announced a major Bard update that introduces Extensions (Plugins) enabling Bard to connect with Google services and expand use cases. The new Plugins provide native integrations with YouTube, Maps, Gmail, Google Workspace, Google Hotels, Google Flights, Drive, Docs, and Google Lens, allowing Bard to pull data and inputs from these services to perform tasks within a single conversation. Examples include planning travel by coordinating Gmail data, real-time flight and hotel information, and Maps directions, as well as surfacing YouTube suggestions. The Extensions are accessed in the Bard interface via a puzzle-piece icon. The update complements other Bard features such as image uploads via Lens and the ability to publicly share conversations. Noted proponents include Jens Polomski, who highlighted the development on X, and Yury Pinsky, Director of Product Management for Bard at Google, who described practical group-travel planning scenarios using Gmail, Maps, and YouTube.
Technical Release by Google introducing Bard plugins/extensions; major platform
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Google announced Bard now supports extensions/plugins to connect with Google services (YouTube, Maps, Gmail, Google Workspace, Hotels, Flights).
- Extensions enable Bard to pull data from these services to perform tasks within a single chat (e.g., real-time flight/hotel info, maps directions, Gmail content).
- Extensions are accessed in Bard via a puzzle-piece icon in the interface.
- The update also introduces public sharing of conversations and image uploads via Lens.
- Polomski and Pinsky are cited discussing practical use cases, including travel planning across Gmail, Maps, and YouTube.
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