Ever since the launch of ChatGPT and Microsoft’s announcement of its integration into its Bing browser, Google has feared its search engine domination. In response, the tech giant recently unveiled its own AI chatbot, Bard. However, the rollout of the new technology has caused internal turmoil, with Googlers (Google employees) taking to internal message boards to express frustration and disappointment over the company’s handling of the crucial Bard AI launch, according to a report by CNBC.
Despite being a significant step forward in the search industry, many employees believe that Bard is not yet ready for the market. This was evident in a demonstration where the chatbot gave a factually incorrect response, causing the company’s stock to drop by over 8% and a loss of $100 billion in market value in a single day.
This led employees to use Google’s internal forum “Memegen” to voice their concerns, with one meme showing a dumpster fire with Google’s logo and the caption “How everything has felt since last year.” Analysts have also criticized the launch of Bard, noting a lack of details regarding Google’s plans to integrate the chatbot into its search engine. In contrast, Microsoft has already integrated ChatGPT into its Bing browser and is now accepting invites from users to try out the new features.
Googlers unhappy with the layoffs
Despite CEO Sundar Pichai’s justification for laying off 12,000 employees due to worsening economic conditions and to better position the company for AI technology, including Bard, internal reports suggest that many Googlers are unhappy with the company and expressed their disappointment through memes.
One such meme read, “Firing 12k people raises the stock by 3%, one rushed AI presentation drops it by 8%,” reflecting internal backlash against the layoffs and the rushed Bard AI presentation. Employees believe that the company is not taking a long-term outlook in its decision-making and rushing Bard to the market without fully considering its potential implications.