Microsoft’s Bing chatbot is offering replies in three different tones as it seeks to address some criticisms of the service.

The search engine’s chatbot, powered by the same technology behind ChatGPT, will now give users options for three types of response: creative (“creating surprise and entertainment”), balanced (“reasonable and coherent”) or precise (“concise, prioritising accuracy”).

The new-look Bing is being rolled out gradually but generated wild responses in some interactions shortly after its launch last month, including declaring its love for a New York Times journalist. This prompted Microsoft to add some restrictions, which resulted in Bing’s chatbot refusing to answer some queries.

Microsoft’s head of web services, Mikhail Parakhin, said the updated Bing should now make fewer refusals and “hallucinations”, or false replies. Referring to the tone options, Parakhin said he preferred the “creative” tone, although “precise” was “much more factual”.