At its F8 developers' conference this week, Facebook announced that its Messenger platform will now allow companies to connect with users via chatbots—applications designed to simulate intelligent machine-to-human conversations. With chatbots, companies can automatically respond to user queries and provide services, such as placing an order or printing a document. Yet chatbots' future is uncertain. Although some analysts say chatbots could provide new Web commerce opportunities for companies, others wonder if chatbots will prove to be faddish toys. Ultimately, their fate will come down to whether they will prove effective enough to convince online marketers to deploy them in large numbers. Right now, many believe chatbots will prove effective. In fact, Facebook announced April 12 that it has partnered with several companies, including HP and HealthTap, to deliver chatbots. For now, Messenger's chatbots are being developed and deployed by startups, though big companies, including Bank of America, are planning to join the fray. This slide show highlights some of the chatbots available now or coming soon and what users can expect when they try them out.
- eWeek