Microsoft considers discontinuing Bing data access for competing AI chatbots

The competition among artificial intelligence is intensifying.

The competition among AI chatbots is heating up, and Microsoft is reportedly considering taking steps to protect its position in the market. According to a report by Bloomberg, the tech giant is considering barring other companies from using data from its search engine, Bing, for their own chatbots.

Microsoft has allegedly issued warnings to two separate Bing-powered search engines, threatening to terminate their access if they continue to use Bing's data for their chatbots. Although the companies involved in the dispute were not identified in the report, it is worth noting that several search engines, including DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, and You.com, rely on Bing's data to enhance their own search engine capabilities.

These sites typically acquire a license from Microsoft to access Bing's data, which they can then use in a myriad of ways to improve their search engine's functionality. However, according to Bloomberg's report, Microsoft has drawn the line at "using Bing’s search index as fodder for AI chatbots."

While Microsoft is reportedly satisfied with how Bing's data is currently being used, the company is apparently concerned about other firms using its data to create AI chatbots. It is worth noting that AI chatbots are becoming increasingly popular, with companies like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Bard, and Microsoft's Bing Chat all competing for market share.

The Verge notes that several companies, including DuckDuckGo, You.com, and Neeva, have recently launched their own AI products. It is unclear if these companies are the ones that Microsoft has warned.

Generative AI and AI chatbots have been some of the most significant tech innovations in 2023. With new capabilities and versions of AI bots being developed on a daily basis, many tech giants are vying for dominance in the emerging field. Microsoft's move to limit other companies' access to its data in the AI field is a logical step in this highly competitive landscape.

Bing has recently launched a new feature that allows it to generate images via AI, adding to the company's arsenal of AI-powered tools. As the competition among tech giants continues to intensify, it will be interesting to see how Microsoft's latest move will affect the market for AI chatbots and related products.