Microsoft warns AI chatbot rivals to refrain from using Bing’s search index

2 min. read

Published on March 27, 2023

published on March 27, 2023

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According to a new report by Bloomberg, Microsoft reportedly doesn’t want any of its AI chatbot rivals using its Bing search index. The company has further indicated that it might go as far as placing data restrictions to prevent access.

This news comes after the company reportedly found two companies that remain anonymous using Bing’s search index for their AI chatbot services, outrightly violating Microsoft’s terms and conditions. If both companies continue with this trend Microsoft has indicated that it will revoke their licenses kicking them out of the service.

Microsoft provides licenses to various companies, including DuckDuckGo which recently debuted DuckAssist, Neeva, and You.com which grants them access to the company’s Bing search data. With a license from Microsoft, a company like DuckDuckGo gets to leverage Bing’s capabilities alongside its own to provide users with search results.

It’s apparent that most, if not all companies are trying to clock on the AI trend right now, but with Microsoft now threatening to place data restrictions on Bing’s search index, most of its AI rivals could crumble as most of their search engines are dependent on Bing.

Microsoft indicates that its AI rivals using Bing’s search index as their primary foundation is breaching the set terms and conditions under the license contract. And on this basis, Microsoft will reportedly revoke contracts it’s in with search engines that don’t adhere to these rules.

While speaking to Bloomberg, Microsoft indicated that:

We’ve been in touch with partners who are out of compliance as we continue to consistently enforce our terms across the board. We’ll continue to work with them directly and provide any information needed to find a path forward.

With even more companies incorporating ChatGPT-like features across their services and products, it’s likely that Microsoft might try to make Bing’s search index exclusive to its own chatbot, Bing Chat. Just last week, Google opened up its Bard AI Chat platform to select users in the US and UK with plans to roll out the tool to a wider audience in the near future.

via: The Verge

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.