Google's Secret ChatGPT: Fear Halted Early AI Release

Cyber godfather Tibo reveals that Google developed a ChatGPT counterpart a full year earlier but chose not to release it. This project, initially called LMChat, was almost identical to ChatGPT. Tibo, who now works for OpenAI, was part of that Google team. He explains that Google executives were too nervous to release it, fearing its impact on Google Search, their core business. DeepMind was also prohibited from launching products that could affect Google's main operations. This news comes after an engineer found an old interview with Jeff Dean, former head of Google Brain, who mentioned an internal chatbot before ChatGPT. Tibo confirmed this was LMChat. Demis Hassabis, Google AI's top leader, also noted that many recognized the power of large language models, but OpenAI was simply bolder in releasing theirs. The bottom line is that Google's high standards for its search product ultimately led them to delay a groundbreaking AI release.