Google, Facebook stepping up with virtual assistants
- 8 years ago
News of Google and Facebook releasing their own virtual assistants, or chatbots, has driven some analysts to forecast there may be more to follow in 2016.
"Chatbots are designed to answer questions, to perform searches, to interact with you in a very simple form, such as jokes or weather," said Altimeter Group principal analyst Brian Solis, predicting what the immediate future may hold for virtual assistants.
One of the more "human" virtual assistants we may see in 2016 is Facebook's chatbot called "M." With a short and punchy name, "M" isn't just able to have a normal conversation with a human user; it can also tell jokes, purchase items, or stay on the line as you call utility services.
"Chatbots are designed to answer questions, to perform searches, to interact with you in a very simple form, such as jokes or weather," said Altimeter Group principal analyst Brian Solis, predicting what the immediate future may hold for virtual assistants.
One of the more "human" virtual assistants we may see in 2016 is Facebook's chatbot called "M." With a short and punchy name, "M" isn't just able to have a normal conversation with a human user; it can also tell jokes, purchase items, or stay on the line as you call utility services.