Definition: chatbot

(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. 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.

Chatbots vs. Virtual Assistants vs. AI
Chatbots are often embedded within a Web page to assist users with the website's products or services. A chatbot often functions as the first attempt at helping users before they are permitted to activate a text chat or phone call with a human rep. A chatbot tuned to the website's topic often seems as if a real person is communicating, at least at first blush. After a reasonable amount of back-and-forth dialogue, users often become frustrated. 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 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, GPT, ChatGPT, Gemini chatbot, Inflection AI and Bing AI chatbot.

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