I think you missed it, Paul. Google launched BARD in 2023 as an invite-only and, to stay relevant I think, opened it to the public shortly after that. 

I just asked it to explain the internet to a 12-year-old and this was BARD's response...

Imagine the internet as a giant spiderweb, but instead of catching flies, it connects computers all over the world! Your computer is like a little spider on this web, and you can use it to chat with friends, watch videos, or play games with other spiders far away.

Let's break it down into smaller steps:

    Talking in code: Everything you do on the internet, like sending a message or watching a video, gets turned into tiny pieces of information called "bits." It's like speaking a secret computer language!
    Packing your bags: These bits get bundled up into little packets with addresses just like on a real package. The address tells the internet where to send them, like your friend's username or a website URL.
    Highway to the web: These packets then hop on the information superhighway! This includes things like cables under the ocean, wires in your walls, and even satellites in space.
    Router relay race: Along the way, they meet helpful devices called routers who read the addresses and send them in the right direction. Think of them as traffic cops directing the packets to their destinations.
    Unpacking and understanding: Finally, the packets reach their destination computer, which unpacks them and turns them back into the things you can see and hear, like your friend's message or the funny cat video.

Here are some extra fun facts:

    The internet is made up of millions of computers working together, like a giant team helping you connect and explore.
    The packets travel at lightning speed, but sometimes they get stuck in traffic, which is why your internet might slow down.
    There are all sorts of cool things on the internet, but remember to be safe and responsible just like you would in the real world!

I hope this explanation makes the internet less like a big mystery and more like a fun adventure your computer goes on every time you click something!