Chatbot
Also known as: Conversational AI, Chat Assistant, Virtual Assistant
Software that simulates conversation with users, ranging from rule-based scripts to sophisticated AI assistants powered by LLMs.
Chatbots are programs designed to converse with humans, evolving from simple scripted responses to AI systems capable of nuanced dialogue.
Evolution
| Era | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | Rule-based | ELIZA |
| 2010s | Intent matching | Siri, Alexa |
| 2020s | LLM-powered | ChatGPT, Claude |
Modern Capabilities
- Natural language understanding
- Context retention across conversation
- Task completion (search, code, analysis)
- Personality and tone adaptation
- Multimodal input (images, files)
Applications
- Customer support: 24/7 automated assistance
- Personal assistants: Scheduling, reminders
- Education: Tutoring, Q&A
- Healthcare: Symptom checking, mental health
- Productivity: Writing, coding, research
Considerations
- Hallucination: Confident but wrong answers
- Privacy: Conversation data handling
- Dependency: Over-reliance on AI assistance
- Job impact: Customer service automation