More about it:
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A chatbot is a sophisticated computer program that functions as a conversational agent, capable of interacting with users to perform various tasks.

Chatbots can also be integrated into social media platforms' messaging features or deployed as standalone bots on a brand's social media page. They are designed to simulate human conversation and can be used for marketing, customer service, and many other applications. For example, Chatimize’s Instagram chatbot is a specialized service designed to create and deploy chatbots specifically for social media marketing.

Fun Fact: According to a study by Tidio, 88% of users engaged in at least one conversation with a chatbot in 2022.

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Let's explore how chatbots work -

Chatbots employ Natural Language Processing (NLP) to comprehend and analyze user input, responding with relevant information or actions. They can be broadly categorized into two types: rule-based and self-learning.
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• Rule-based Chatbots: These use predefined rules to understand and respond to user input. They are suitable for straightforward tasks with limited variables.
• Self-learning Chatbots: These utilize machine learning algorithms to learn from previous interactions, improving their responses over time. They are more adaptable and can handle complex queries.

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Chatbots use various techniques such as intent recognition, named-entity recognition, and sentiment analysis to understand the user's intent and provide appropriate assistance.

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Take a look at this example of a support chatbot on a website.

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Let's now see the uses of chatbots -

Chatbots can be used in various industries and applications, such as:

• Customer Service: Automating customer communication and providing support.
• E-commerce: Assisting customers with shopping, recommending products, and handling orders.
• Banking: Helping customers with account inquiries, balance checks, and money transfers.
• Healthcare: Providing patients with health information and scheduling appointments.
• Education: Assisting students with coursework information and registration processes.
• Entertainment: Offering personalized recommendations for movies, music, and more.
• Recruitment: Facilitating the recruitment process by providing information about open positions and scheduling interviews.

With advancements in technology, the potential use cases for chatbots are continuously expanding.

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Let’s now dive into the types of chatbots:
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Chatbots can be classified into several categories based on their functionality:

• Rule-based Chatbots: Operate on predefined rules to understand and respond to user input.
• Self-learning Chatbots: Use machine learning algorithms to learn from interactions.
• Retrieval-based Chatbots: Use pre-defined responses to answer user questions.
• Generative Chatbots: Utilize deep learning algorithms to generate responses.
• Hybrid Chatbots: Combine rule-based and self-learning functionalities.
• Voice Chatbots: Interact with users through voice commands.
• Visual Chatbots: Use visual interfaces like images, videos, or animations to interact with users.

Choosing the right type of chatbot depends on the application and the specific requirements of the task.

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Check out this screenshot of a conversation between a user and a chatbot.
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Let’s now check out some real-life examples of chatbots:

• E-commerce: Sephora uses a chatbot on Facebook Messenger to help customers find the right beauty products, book in-store appointments, and provide makeup tutorials.
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• Banking: Bank of America’s chatbot, Erica, assists customers with checking balances, transferring money, and other banking transactions.
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• Healthcare: Babylon Health offers a chatbot that provides patients with medical advice, symptom checking, and appointment scheduling.

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