Chatbot
A program you talk to in plain language that answers questions or handles simple tasks in a back-and-forth conversation.
It is where most people meet AI, and the baseline an agent improves on by actually taking action.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chatbot the same as an AI agent?
Not quite. A chatbot talks with you and answers questions back and forth, while an agent goes a step further and actually takes action, like booking or updating a record. The chatbot is the baseline that an agent improves on by doing rather than just replying.
Are chatbots good enough to handle real customer questions?
They can handle plenty of simple, repetitive questions well, which is why so many businesses put one on their site. For anything factual or high-stakes, though, its answers still deserve a human check, since a chatbot predicts language and can sound confident while being wrong.
Do I need to know how to code to use a chatbot for my business?
No, chatbots are the most common way people first meet AI precisely because you just type in plain language. Building a custom one for your workflows can be done with no-code tools, without hiring an engineer.
New to all this? Start with what an AI agent really is, browse the full glossary, or explore the learning hub.
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