Chatbot

A chatbot is a program designed to have automatic conversations with people, either through text or voice.

The word comes from English: chat (as in conversation) + bot (short for robot). In short, it’s a robot that chats. Chatbots are widely used on websites, apps, social media, and customer service platforms. Some are very basic — they reply with pre-set options — and others use artificial intelligence to better understand what you’re saying and respond more naturally. When the system can plan, use tools, and complete multi-step goals, you’re usually looking at an AI agent rather than a scripted bot.

What does a chatbot do?

A chatbot can help you make a reservation, answer frequently asked questions, guide you through a process, sell products, or even keep you company while studying. Their main advantage is availability: they work 24/7, respond quickly, and can assist many people at once. Some companies use them to save resources; others, to improve the user experience.

Chatbots don’t replace humans, but they can automate repetitive tasks and free up time so people can focus on things that require empathy, judgment, or creativity.