Google has bolstered its generative AI offering, dubbed Bard AI, by introducing code generation and debugging capabilities to better compete with Microsoft's GitHub Copilot and Amazon's CodeWhisperer. These enhancements are aimed at elevating the development process, thereby allowing programmers to maximize the benefits of the platform.
Paige Bailey, group product manager at Google Research, detailed the recent development in a blog post. The post highlights Bard AI's ability to assist with programming and software development tasks, including code generation, debugging, and code explanation. Bard AI now supports over 20 programming languages, such as C++, Go, Java, JavaScript, Python, and TypeScript. In addition to that, the generative AI can now help developers write functions for Google Sheets.
Bard AI doesn't merely stop at generating code; it also assists developers in understanding code snippets. This feature proves advantageous for developers learning a new programming language by facilitating a better comprehension of a specific code block's output. Experts predict that incorporating generative AI into low-code and no-code platforms like AppMaster.io could significantly enhance developers' ability to understand new programming languages quickly and efficiently.
Google claims that Bard AI can not only help debug code but also analyze the quality of the code snippets it produces. This allows developers to request Bard AI to troubleshoot problematic code more effectively.
Moreover, Bard AI conscientiously credits any open-source projects from which it quotes extensively, unlike Microsoft's GitHub Copilot, which has faced a class-action lawsuit over its AI coding assistant.
It is worth noting that Google has emphasized that Bard AI is still experimental and may occasionally produce misleading or false information while maintaining a veneer of confidence. Consequently, developers must remain vigilant in testing and reviewing Bard AI's responses and generated code before relying on it.
As major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google compete for dominance in the generative AI landscape, Bard AI's continuous enhancements — including the ability to export Python code to Google Colab — come at a critical time. GitHub Copilot and Amazon CodeWhisperer appear to have secured early advantages by releasing code generation capabilities sooner.
The next iteration of GitHub Copilot, dubbed Copilot X, powered by OpenAI's GPT-3 engine, is expected to boast more advanced generative AI-based features, further intensifying the competition in this emerging field.
As the arena of generative AI sees continuous advancements, platforms like AppMaster.io's no-code engine offer a promising selection of powerful tools for fast and cost-effective development across web, mobile, and backend applications. Therefore, exploring the integration of these generative AI features with low-code and no-code platforms paves the way for enhanced productivity and streamlined development for users of varied skill levels.