Google’s Bard AI Can Now Help Users Write Code

Google has upgraded its Bard AI with new code generation and debugging capabilities. Developers can now use the AI to write and debug code, translate code from one language to another, and also explain code line by line.

“We’re launching these capabilities in more than 20 programming languages including C++, Go, Java, Javascript, Python, and Typescript. And you can easily export Python code to Google Colab — no copy and paste required,” Google explained today.

Bard can also help to write functions for Sheets, Google’s alternative to Excel. Google emphasized that developers should still double-check any code provided by its AI as it can sometimes provide unexpected results. However, Bard can also help users debug the code it wrode. “If Bard quotes at length from an existing open source project, it will cite the source,” Google also said.

Since its launch in the US and the UK in March, Bard has been struggling with perception issues. It’s actually been hard not to see Bard as a rushed answer to ChatGPT. These new code generation and debugging features also come months after Microsoft made its GitHub Copilot generally available.

Earlier this week, Bloomberg also reported that Google employees who have been testing Bard internally have been left unimpressed by the new AI. One of them described Bard as “a pathological liar,” while another one called it “cringe-worthy.”