Coding with Microsoft's New Bing AI Chat

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is the Bing Chat AI Tool?
3. Microsoft's investment in Open AI
4. Waitlist for accessing the Bing Chat AI tool
5. Limitations and restrictions of the Bing Chat AI tool
6. Conversations with Bing Chat AI and its responses
7. Examples of programming in Python using Bing Chat AI
8. Refactoring examples with Bing Chat AI
9. Issues with Bing and Edge
10. Comparison with other chat alternatives
11. Conclusion

Article

Introduction

Hi everyone, Ian here! In this article, I'll be sharing my experience with the new Bing Chat AI tool and how it performs for programming in Python. Microsoft has made significant investments in Open AI and integrated a chat-like interface for Bing. I'll provide insights on its functionalities, limitations, and my overall impression of using this tool.

What is the Bing Chat AI tool?

The Bing Chat AI tool is an innovative feature introduced by Microsoft. It offers users the ability to engage in conversations with an AI Chatbot through the Bing search engine. This chat-like interface resembles the popular GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) model and allows for a more interactive and conversational experience while searching for information or solving programming problems.

Microsoft's investment in Open AI

Microsoft has heavily invested in Open AI, a leading organization in the field of artificial intelligence research. This partnership has paved the way for incorporating advanced AI capabilities into Microsoft products and services. The integration of the Bing Chat AI tool is a testament to Microsoft's commitment to providing cutting-edge AI solutions to its users.

Waitlist for accessing the Bing Chat AI tool

In order to access the Bing Chat AI tool, users need to join a waitlist. Due to the high demand and limited capacity, Microsoft has implemented a waitlist system to ensure fair access to the tool. This waitlist approach allows Microsoft to control the usage and Gather valuable feedback from users before scaling up the availability of the tool.

Limitations and restrictions of the Bing Chat AI tool

To prevent any potential issues or misuse of the Bing Chat AI tool, Microsoft has imposed certain limitations and restrictions. Conversations with the AI chatbot are limited to approximately five queries per session, after which the conversation is wiped out, and a new session needs to be initiated. Bing also reserves the right to terminate a conversation at any point if it deems it necessary to avoid dangerous territory.

Conversations with Bing Chat AI and its responses

I started my exploration of the Bing Chat AI tool by asking it for a good Outline of a two-week Python course for a newcomer to programming. The AI chatbot quickly provided a Relevant and thorough introduction to Python, focusing on data structures in the first week and delving into classes and inheritance in the Second week. However, there were some formatting issues in the code examples provided, making it slightly difficult to follow.

Next, I asked Bing Chat AI about collections and received satisfactory responses regarding ordered dictionaries and sorting techniques. Unfortunately, the conversation was abruptly cut off, as I reached the conversation limit set by Bing. This limitation means losing all Context and having to start a new topic, which can be frustrating when trying to maintain the flow of a conversation.

I also tested Bing Chat AI's knowledge on web frameworks, to which it responded with three popular options: Django, Flask, and Cherry Pie (which I hadn't come across before). Bing Chat AI then provided code examples for building an API using Flask to serve JSON products from a store. The explanations were clear, and the code worked as expected. I even requested further updates to the API, and Bing Chat AI adjusted it without any issues.

Examples of programming in Python using Bing Chat AI

Moving on to specific programming tasks, I asked Bing Chat AI to refactor some poorly written code. It admirably provided a mapped response to refactor a long if statement. However, when I requested an alternative solution, it reverted back to the original long if statement, which was a minor setback.

To gauge Bing Chat AI's certainty in providing accurate code examples, I asked for a code example for web scraping. Unlike with GPT-Based chatbots, Bing Chat AI acknowledged that it cannot guarantee the functionality of the code since it has not been tested. This level of transparency is useful for developers who rely on reliable and tested code snippets.

Issues with Bing and Edge

While exploring the Bing Chat AI tool, I encountered a few issues that extended beyond the chat interface itself. Firstly, accessing the tool via Edge Dev, Microsoft's recommended browser, was challenging. This posed an inconvenience as I usually prefer using Chrome, which already has established developer tools. Users attempting to access the chat on other browsers, especially on Mac, are prompted to switch to Edge for chat functionality, limiting the tool's accessibility.

Additionally, there were rendering errors and instances where copying code became problematic due to overlapping screens and mouse quirks. Bing's search results also displayed inconsistencies, with deprecated content appearing at the top in some cases. This discrepancy between Bing and Google search results suggests a fault in the search algorithm when a question is entered, rather than a specific search term.

Comparison with other chat alternatives

In comparison to specialized chat alternatives like Chat GPT, Bing Chat AI falls short in terms of polished functionality. The requirement to restart conversations and reestablish context over multiple queries inhibits the smooth flow of work. For users seeking solutions to complex technical problems, this limitation might prove frustrating, especially when small adjustments to queries are required.

Conclusion

Based on my experience, I don't foresee switching to Bing as my primary search engine or relying solely on Bing Chat AI for programming assistance. Although the tool showcases promising AI capabilities, its limitations, restrictions, and technical issues hinder its potential. However, it's worth noting that the Bing Chat AI tool is still in its early stages, and Microsoft may address these limitations and improve the overall user experience in future updates.

Whether You've tried the Bing Chat AI tool or are considering alternative chat alternatives, I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments section. If you found this article helpful, don't forget to give it a thumbs up, and consider subscribing for more informative content. Until next time, happy coding!

Highlights

• Microsoft's Bing Chat AI tool offers an interactive chat-like interface for users to engage with an AI chatbot.
• The integration of Open AI technologies enhances Bing's capabilities in providing advanced AI solutions.
• Access to the Bing Chat AI tool is currently limited to users on a waitlist.
• Bing Chat AI has limitations regarding the number of queries per session and terminating conversations to avoid potential issues.
• Bing Chat AI offers code examples, refactoring assistance, and programming knowledge, albeit with some limitations and formatting issues.
• Issues related to Bing and Edge, the recommended browser, hinder the overall user experience.
• Comparison with other chat alternatives highlights the need for improvement in the flow and context management of Bing Chat AI.
• Despite its potential, Bing Chat AI may not be the preferred choice for developers seeking a seamless programming assistance tool.

FAQ

Q: Can I access the Bing Chat AI tool immediately? A: No, access to the Bing Chat AI tool is currently limited and requires joining a waitlist due to high demand.

Q: How many queries can I make in a Bing Chat AI session? A: Bing Chat AI allows approximately five queries per session before wiping out the conversation and requiring a new session to be initiated.

Q: Does Bing Chat AI provide accurate code examples? A: Bing Chat AI provides code examples; however, it acknowledges that certain examples may not have been tested and cannot guarantee their functionality.

Q: Can I use Bing Chat AI on browsers other than Edge? A: Bing Chat AI functionality is optimized for Edge Dev, and users on other browsers may be prompted to switch to Edge for chat functionality.

Q: Are there any alternatives to Bing Chat AI? A: Yes, there are alternative chat options available, such as specialized chat alternatives like Chat GPT, which offer more polished functionalities.