Google Workspace admins can now turn access to Bard on or off for end users

Google has added the ability for Workspace admins to turn access to Bard, Google's AI-powered chatbot service, on or off for their end users through Early Access Apps control.

Similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT, Bard is a powerful AI system trained on a diverse range of topics, allowing it to generate high-quality human-like responses to a wide variety of questions and prompts.

Bard was initially available to users with personal Google Accounts. All Google Workspace customers will now have the ability to enable or disable access to Bard, regardless of whether the service is currently available in their country. This means, even if Early Access Apps are turned on for an organization, users in countries where Bard is not yet accessible will be unable to utilize the service.

The new setting is gradually rolling out to both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains and may take up to 15 days to be fully visible. It will be available to all Google Workspace customers, legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers and not for any Google Workspace for Education accounts designated as under 18.

You can turn access to Bard on or off in the Admin console under Apps > Additional Google services > Early Access Apps.

Google noted that Bard will be the only service managed by the Early Access Apps control. Over time, other services may be added under this control.