Definition: chatbot

(1) For OpenAI's AI chatbot, see ChatGPT.

(2) (chat roBOT) Software that provides a text or verbal interaction with the user in their native language in order to provide help on a website or to answer questions in general.

Also called a "chatterbot" and "virtual consultant," the chatbot is designed to emulate normal human responses. In the past, chatbots were generally limited to a specific topic; however, AI-based chatbots have become more general-purpose systems capable of answering almost any question with varying degrees of accuracy.

AI Chatbots
In 2022, ChatGPT, OpenAI's chatbot, caused everyone to pay attention. Since then, AI chatbots from xAI, Google, Meta, Anthropic and others have been launched, and the world will never be the same. AI chatbots can answer questions on almost any topic and can generate original text, images and video (see generative AI). See ChatGPT, Gemini chatbot, xAI, Inflection AI and Bing AI chatbot.

Chatbots vs. Virtual Assistants
Non-AI chatbots are often embedded within a Web page to assist users with the company's products or services. A chatbot often functions as the first attempt at helping users before they can activate a text chat or phone call with a human rep.

At first, a chatbot about the website's products may seem like a person is communicating. After a little back-and-forth, it is easy to tell there is only a machine at the other end. However, thoughtfully programmed chatbots state up front they are machine dialogues only. Some chatbots state they can link you to a human rep if necessary. See Loebner Prize.

On the other hand, virtual assistants such as Alexa, Siri and Cortana are able to answer questions about myriad topics. The more AI is used to train chatbots, the more the lines between virtual assistants and chatbots are blurring. Whereas a virtual assistant can answer a question about a topic, an AI chatbot can hold a conversation about it, as well as generate what appears to be original prose. See virtual assistant.

To explore the variety of topics in this reference, see What's in this encyclopedia.