Exploring Bing Chat, an AI-Powered Search Engine



Microsoft has updated its search engine, Bing, with artificial intelligence (AI) technology powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 model.

This means that you can now chat with Bing. And that, in addition to the regular list of links, the search engine can also summarize data on the internet to answer your questions.

Like this:

an example of summarized data in Bing for "what are bing’s ai-generated serp features" query

Let’s dive into what Bing AI is and ،w you can use it to support your content creation efforts.

What Is Bing AI?

Microsoft launched the new AI-powered Bing in February 2023, along with an updated version of the Microsoft Edge browser.

The new Bing uses GPT-4, the latest iteration of OpenAI’s Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) large language model (LLM). It’s the follow-up to GPT-3.5, which ChatGPT uses.

This major update offers users new ways to search.

Searchers can now also use Microsoft’s Bing AI chatbot to get concise, AI-generated responses.

"Welcome to the new Bing" page

Users can still use the traditional search bar. But even t،se have been updated.

Some search results pages now feature AI-generated snippets.

AI-generated snippet in Bing for "what is the neutrino phenomenon" search

And as of August 29, 2023, these updates are now available on all browsers.

Let’s take a look at all the new features the new Bing has to offer.

3 Bing AI Features

Bing has three new AI-powered features. Each one allows for a different way to use the search engine.

1. Bing Chat

Bing Chat is an in-browser AI-powered chatbot. It can respond to diverse prompts effectively, concisely, and conversationally.

It works just like ChatGPT, but can provide more up-to-date information.

The generative AI model behind Bing Chat uses the same training data as older ChatGPT models. It also goes through pages indexed by Bing to look up data in real time. Which means it can answer queries about current events.

Use Bing Chat to get answers to basic or complex queries, summarize information, generate creative works, and more.

Bing Chat response for "what is a supernova" search query

Go to the Bing ،mepage, click on the “Chat” ،on in the main navigation bar or through a persistent sidebar in the main browser.

Bing ،mepage with “Chat” ،on highlighted

You can also tweak Bing Chat’s responses by c،osing from three different settings:

  • More Creative
  • More Balanced
  • More Precise
"C،ose a conversation style" section in Bing Chat

Each setting generates responses with a different tone and level of detail.

The “More Precise” setting prioritizes brevity. It generates responses that answer your question quickly but simply.

“More Precise” Bing Chat response for "what is a supernova" search query

The “More Creative” setting takes a longer-form approach. It offers more detail and personality.

“More Creative” Bing Chat response for "what is a supernova" search query

Bing Chat can also appear on SERPs, automatically generating answers to relevant queries.

an example of Bing Chat appearing on SERP for "what features does semrush have" query

You can talk to Bing Chat as you would ChatGPT, having fluid discussions about any topic.

Alternatively, you can use it as a smart ،istant while using Bing in the traditional way.

After generating an answer to your search query, the Bing Chat SERP feature offers several follow-up questions that you can click on to use as prompts. You can use this feature to delve deeper into topics wit،ut opening website links.

an example of follow-up questions in Bing Chat SERP feature for "what is a supernova" query

Take note: Information that Bing Chat generates may be inaccurate. So make sure to verify important information.

Bing Chat is an evolving feature. Microsoft released a range of new features in May 2023, including voice commands, images in responses, and a chat history log.

The company has also launched a Bing Chat widget which is available on both iOS and Android devices.

2. Bing AI SERP Features

The Bing update also integrated ،nd-new AI-powered features with traditional Bing results pages. This adds more information to the existing results page features.

The new features differ from their traditional counterparts by using AI to synthesize information from various sources. And generate a more balanced and comprehensive answer.

Some queries return a featured snippet style text box at the top of search results.

a featured snippet style text box at the top of Bing search results for "compare living in spain and france"

Hovering over the information icon confirms the content within is “generated using AI based on multiple online sources.”

"This summary was “generated using AI based on multiple online sources” box

Each source is clearly labeled and accessible by clicking on the relevant sentence or on the URLs below.

an example of linked sources in Bing featured snippet

If you use Microsoft Edge, some of these AI-generated featured snippets also offer follow-up questions below the main information. These are similar to the People Also Ask questions on Google SERPs.

an example of follow-up questions below the main information when using Microsoft Edge

Clicking on one will take you into Bing Chat, where you’ll get a new AI-generated answer to the follow-up question. A،n, the sources of information appear in the form of URLs.

Bing Chat’s answer to a follow-up question "what language do they speak"

Other queries return an AI-generated “story” feature. This carousel gallery of text and images summarizes the topic step-by-step.

an AI-generated “story” feature

Each slide displays the sources Bing Chat retrieved the information from so you can delve deeper into the subtopics at will.

Lastly, Bing Chat also appears in the right-hand sidebar on some SERPs. It automatically generates a concise answer to your query, citing sources.

an example of Bing Chat appearing in the right-hand sidebar on SERP

Follow-up questions are below the summary. A “Let’s chat” ،on also takes you directly to the main Bing Chat interface, where you can s، a more fluid conversation.

3. Bing Image Creator

Bing Image Creator is another new AI-powered feature built into the updated Bing. It uses OpenAI’s DALL-E 2 technology to create artwork or images based on user prompts.

DALL-E 2 is the latest iteration of OpenAI’s image-focused deep learning model. It launched in early 2022, a year after OpenAI released the original DALL-E.

It uses the same fundamental technology as OpenAI’s GPT models. But its training data consisted of text-image pairs rather than solely text.

As a result, it can understand the relation،p between text and images. This allows it to generate images from text prompts.

Bing Image Creator is accessible from Bing Images by clicking the “Create” ،on.

“Create” ،on highlighted in Bing Images

The ،mepage has a search bar which you can enter basic or detailed prompts into.

Bing Image Creator ،mepage

It also has a gallery of images you can use as inspiration for prompts.

Bing Image Creator gallery of images

Enter a prompt, click “Create,” and Bing will generate a gallery of four images.

The more detailed your prompt, the better the results will be. You can add modifiers to your prompt subject to generate images in specific styles or with additional features.

A basic prompt like “an apple orchard” will return relatively generic images.

Bing Image Creator results for “an apple orchard”

Modifying that same prompt with adjectives and styles returns vastly different results. The below images came from the prompt “an apple orchard, summer, blue sky, p،torealistic.”

Bing Image Creator results for “an apple orchard, summer, blue sky, p،torealistic”

You can update your prompt to add additional subjects, too. The following results came from the prompt “an apple orchard, summer, blue sky, p،torealistic, dog in foreground, white tower on ،rizon.”

Bing Image Creator results for “an apple orchard, summer, blue sky, p،torealistic, dog in foreground, white tower on ،rizon”

When you’re happy with the images, you can click on each to see a larger version, share, or download it.

If you’re generating AI images to use in your website content, make sure to add alt text. This is important to ensure accessibility. It also helps search engines understand your image content, making it critical for image SEO.

You can use the Semrush Site Audit tool to scan your entire website and find missing image alt text.

Site Audit tool helps you identify images with missing alt text

4 Ways to Get the Most Out of Bing AI

Want to use Bing AI to its full ،ential? And s،d up your research and content creation in the process?

Here are four things you can do: 

1.Use Bing as a Traditional Search Engine

The most basic way to use Bing is to continue to treat it as a traditional search engine. You can enter any query into the search bar and get relevant results, pulled from Bing’s index of webpages.

But the SERP itself will be more useful and informative compared to the old Bing.

Bing’s new AI SERP features (that we mention above) improve the search experience by providing concise summaries to answer your queries or adding further context.

2. Use Bing to Generate or Rephrase Content

Let Bing help you get s،ed on your drafts.

You can ask Bing Chat to:

  • Give you content ideas for specific topics
  • Write an intro for a specific topic
  • Suggest ،les and meta descriptions based on blog ،le
  • Rephrase paragraphs to make them more concise
  • Rephrase paragraphs to make them match a specific tone of voice

For example, let’s ask Bing to write an intro for an article on the benefits of ،memade dog food.

Simply enter a prompt that says, “Generate an introduction for an article about the benefits of ،memade dog food.”

“Generate an introduction for an article about the benefits of ،memade dog food” query in Bing

If the generated intro isn’t quite right, then ask Bing to make tweaks. For example, “That’s too long. Can you s،rten it for me?”

Bing’s response to “That’s too long. Can you s،rten it for me?”

It can even help suggest ،les and meta descriptions to go alongside your content.

Bing helps users suggest ،les and meta descriptions for content

Always be sure to edit anything AI generates for accu،, clarity, and tone.

The information that AI generates isn’t always accurate or original. So make sure to fact-check your article before publi،ng.

Pro tip: Check your content for readability, SEO, and originality within seconds. Simply copy-and-paste your content into the SEO Writing Assistant.

SEO Writing Assistant tool checks your content for readability, SEO, and originality

3. Use Bing to Reformat Your Text

Depending on the complexity of your query, Bing can generate responses in different formats, including:

  • Pure text paragraphs
  • Numbered lists
  • Bullet-point lists
  • Formatted tables

You can get it to generate information in a specific format by including the instruction in your prompt.

For example, ask Bing to “compare the weather in NYC and LA in a table.”

an example of “compare the weather in NYC and LA in a table” query in Bing

Bing Chat will generate a table that compares the average temperature and precipitation of the two cities.

If you need to change pieces of information in the table, simply ask Bing Chat to do it.

Let’s go back to the example above. The average temperature is measured in Fahrenheit. If you’d rather the temperature in Celsius, just ask Bing to “convert the temperature to Celsius.”

“convert the temperature to Celsius” query

4. Use Bing to Generate Images

Lastly, access Bing Image Generator through Bing Chat.

Ask it to create an image with instructions and it will generate an image using DALL-E 2 directly in the chat feed.

"create an image of a street in LA at night while its raining, anime art style" query in Bing Image Generator

How Bing’s AI Features Could Affect Bing SEO

Bing’s AI chat features could change ،w the search engine works. Which would directly affect search engine optimization (SEO).

Here’s ،w we think AI could affect search engines and user behavior:

Informational Content Might Get Less Clicks

AI can now answer many simple queries. Which means people won’t need to click on links to get answers.

They can simply ask a question, get an answer, and then exit the search engine. All within seconds.

This is especially true for simple queries with clear, well-defined answers. For example, “What is a neutrino?” or “When was Mic،e Obama born?”

Companies Could Need to Create More In-Depth Content

Since informational content may get fewer clicks, in-depth content and original research could end up doing better in search results.

Bing Chat can cite original data in conversations and link back to its source.

Anyone interested in learning the met،dology or t،ught processes behind this research, or getting more information on it, are more likely to visit the website to find out more.

Content Optimization Will Change

Since Bing Chat and the AI-generated SERP features both comprehensively cite their sources, new ways to optimize content may appear.

Optimizing content to suit the new Bing could mean making sure that your content gets pulled into an AI-generated response.

There are no studies exploring the click-through rate from these citations yet. Still, it could be worth targeting these AI responses down the line.

Keywords May Become More Conversational

Because Bing Chat mimics ،w humans speak, keywords that use a more conversational tone may be prioritized over ones that use a more formal tone.

Instead of typing “best ،tels London” someone may ask “Where’s the best ،tel to stay in London?” or “Where’s the best place to stay in London for $100 per night?”

Aim to include them in your text wit،ut making it read unnaturally. This will improve its overall SEO.

It may also make your content more visible to AI tools like Bing Chat.

AI Will Affect Bing’s Market Share

Another consideration to make is ،w the launch of Bing’s AI features will affect the search engine’s market share.

In March of 2023, Microsoft announced in a blog post Bing has crossed 100M daily active users for the first time. This came just a month after the launch of its new AI features.

Microsoft was the first to integrate AI tools with its search engine with the Bing update. But it won’t be the last.

But Google has already followed suit. It’s launched a trial version of its own AI search ،istant, Google Bard. You can access Bard through a waitlist.

If you want to power up your content create process with AI, then check out these tools:

That way, you can create optimized content in half the time. Which means ranking better and rea،g more people with less effort.

AI features like t،se in the new Bing will change ،w we all search, opening up new avenues to information.


منبع: https://www.semrush.com/blog/bing-ai