CHATBOTS & AI ASSISTANTS: WHAT DO THEY DO?

Chatbots are essentially software programs designed to simulate human conversational interactions. Using language processing, artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, chatbots enable users to engage with digital services and perform tasks like a virtual assistant.

The most basic chatbots rely on predefined keywords and scripts with limited abilities to understand context or nuance during real-time discussions. Nonetheless, rapid advances in artificial intelligence over the past decade have vastly enhanced how conversational software can interpret vague queries, track context during multi-turn exchanges and deliver more helpful, personalized responses.

With sufficient training based on vast datasets documenting past conversational logs and human interactions, some chatbots now mimic human patterns of speech with remarkable fluency on niche topics. AI models can even adapt tones and speaking styles tailored for specific audiences from major demographics to individual personality traits.

Leading techniques in modern chatbot systems include recurrent neural networks able to reference conversational history, modular frameworks combining specialty narrow AI models and generative adversarial networks that hallucinate realistic responses. Voice-enabled digital assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant which support basic query commands also qualify basic types of chatbots.

More advanced chatbots integrate across messaging apps, websites, mobile interfaces and robotic avatars with expressions and gestures. Enterprise customer service chatbots promise round-the-clock support without human staffing requirements while specialized AI tools serve as expert shopping assistants, medical advisors and more.

According to Juniper Research, global chatbot transaction values across banking, healthcare, retail and other sectors could reach over $120 billion annually by 2025 – up six-fold from 2020. But challenges around consistent semantic interpretation, managing disinformation and determining when human intervention is necessary during high-stakes conversations remain barriers to further adoption.

Chatbots aim to make search, customer engagement and other digital experiences feel more natural, personalized and efficient by interacting conversationally. Conversational AI promises to dramatically elevate how humans and machines communicate in the years ahead.