What is a chatbot?
For nearly as long as modern computers have been around, direct textual interface software which allows users to communicate with each other have accompanied them. Email is certainly useful, but because of its format makes holding a naturally paced conversation somewhat awkward and difficult. As the popularity of the Internet has increased, "instant messaging" or "chat rooms" have become much more widespread. Today, we now even have what are called chatbots.
"What is a chatbot?" Chatbots are actually software programs that are plugged into the Internet so that anyone can chat with them. Some of these bots are designed to have a specific focus during their chat session. Alright, simple enough; but what is it good for? Their uses are almost endless, but I'll list a few of them here as examples. There are bots that have access to information like weather updates and news headlines, while others are focused more on entertainment. There are even some which can list movie show times and listings! Still others attempt to provide as natural and human an experience as possible, and this has proven to be an extremely difficult endeavor, though some chat programs or "bots" do come close it.