Google Bard's EU launch delayed over privacy concerns

Google's rushed attempt to compete with Microsoft's AI chat service, Bard, is facing significant challenges including employee criticism and regulatory hurdles in the European Union (EU).

Google's Bard AI Launch: Google pushed Bard, its AI chat service, into global markets to compete with Microsoft's ChatGPT.

This rapid launch appears to have resulted in a service not fully ready for end users.

There are also significant obstacles in European markets due to privacy concerns.

GDPR Compliance: The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) imposes stringent data protection rules.

Google must provide clear details on how it will comply with these regulations before launching Bard in Europe.

Currently, it has not provided sufficient information or a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) to EU authorities.

Google's Response to GDPR Requirements: Google indicated its intent to provide the necessary documentation and launch Bard responsibly in the EU.

It plans to engage with experts, regulators, and policymakers to meet the required privacy standards.

However, due to raised concerns, the launch has been postponed indefinitely.

Employee Criticism: Internal critics from Google have labeled Bard as misleading and potentially harmful to users.

These employees highlight that Google decided to launch Bard despite these significant issues.

These criticisms add to the challenges Google faces with the introduction of Bard.

Potential Consequences: Google's attempts to introduce Bard into Europe may risk its overall business in the region.

The EU antitrust authorities have accused Google of monopolistic practices, which could lead to drastic operational changes.

Moreover, stricter rules against harmful AI algorithms proposed by the EU might jeopardize Bard's launch altogether.