Technology has been evolving rapidly over the past few decades, and artificial intelligence (AI) has been leading the charge. AI has been used in various applications from self-driving cars to automated customer service. But one of the most intriguing applications of AI is in the form of chatbots. Chatbots, or computer programs designed to simulate conversation, have been around for a while, but the latest iteration of chatbot technology is taking it to a whole new level.

When you hear the term “chatbot,” your mind may at first turn to things like robotic customer support services on retail websites – a relatively mundane use case for chatbots, and one that is probably hard to get excited about if you’re a security engineer. But, the fact is that chatbots can do much more than provide customer support.

With advances in AI, the obvious discussion arises, how to make work-life easier? How to minimize time spent on mundane tasks? How to save time and money while ensuring that your IT team is functioning as efficiently as possible? Now enter… the chatbot. The virtual assistant or the chatbot is a significant AI-powered development with various use cases. It is an integral part of self-service today. In fact, you can even say that the chatbot has re-defined self-service.

Five worthy reads is a regular column on five noteworthy items we have discovered while researching trending and timeless topics. This week, we take a light-hearted approach to chatbots and how they’re being integrated in business and in everyday activities.

Chatbots and Virtual Assistants (VAs) are becoming increasingly popular as businesses accommodate the diverse needs of the digital industry. These tools give companies, no matter how small, the ability to answer their audiences, provide assistance, and solve problems, driving traffic during off-hours and with minimal staff. As a result, chatbots are one of the most effective features you can add to your website. And yet, chatbots present a risk.

Chatbots can be like double-edged swords. It can either boost your customer service or turn customers away. Hence, you must make sure that you research and prepare properly before committing to it. This way, you will know how to optimize and maintain your chatbots to ensure its effectiveness. There are many chatbot benefits for business. In fact, 78% of businesses have started integrating such technology into their customer service in the past months.

Conversational AI chatbots are a new vector of artificial intelligence use case that makes the user experience satisfactory, providing immediate response. This technology enables users to converse with applications through various means, such as via text, voice, touch, or gesture, which are closely the same as humans. Users find it much more impressive as they can communicate with their vocabulary and terminologies.