Chatbots are believed to be in the early development stage of Conversational AI. While some may confuse chatbots with Conversational AI, one must realize that both possess a slight difference in their abilities. Where the latter is based on Cognitive Architecture, AGI orientation, and is generic, the former is based on Machine Learning, Deep Learning techniques. Srini Pagidyala, Co-Founder of Aigo.ai in one of his LinkedIn blogs defines Chatbot as a narrow or weak AI-oriented, purpose-driven technology. Srini believes that Conversational AI can serve as the Universal User Interface by Humanizing Interactions with machines and systems using natural language abilities while ‘narrow or weak AI’ provides the inputs to Conversational AI. The two technologies are complementary and when they are combined effectively they can enhance customer experience and add significant value to both the customer & the company.

Chatbots are believed to be in the early development stage of Conversational AI. How? Let’s dive into it.

Evolution Timeline In the pursuit to adopt more humane features, not only menial tasks but modern chatbot tends to be highly specialized. Chatbots have evolved magnificently to become more diverse and creative with a combination of AI. But how did AI capabilities like NLP aid the evolution?

According to a Medium report, in the early stages of chatbot development, core NLP methods were used to design them as machine learning wasn’t exactly viable then. Slowly machine learning methods came into effect to channel more data and code. Then came google’s 2018 groundbreaking paper BERT, helping researchers transcend all research. One should understand the fact that unless the initial brute force and core methods were utilized there would have never been enough data for the best ML algorithms today.

Across the decade chatbots have evolved with great abilities.

ELIZA Eliza is one of the first natural language processing computer programs created in 1964 by Joseph Weizenbaum. It was developed at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Its main intention was to demonstrate the superficiality of communication between humans and machines. It rose to fame while psychiatric patients perceived it to be human. Eliza simulated the chatbot experience by using a “pattern matching” and substitution methodology. This gave users the illusion of understanding the part of the program but had no built-in framework for contextualizing events. Eliza interacted by providing “scripts”. They were written originally in MAD-Slip (a programming language). It allowed ELIZA to process user inputs and engage in discourse following the rules and directions of the script. It was one of the first programs capable of attempting the Turing test.

Cleverbot Cleverbot, was created by British AI scientist Rollo Carpenter. It is a chatterbot web app that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to strike conversations with humans. It approaches the technique with core natural language processing and fuzzy logic. Fuzzy logic is utilized to tackle a million records stored and their utilization in a heuristic approach. With over 279 million interactions, about 3–4% of the data it has already accumulated Cleverbot is now taking the next big step and aiming to improve its efficiency by implementing ML techniques. It rose to fame after being featured in the popular creepypasta ARG web serial Ben Drowned by Alexander D. Hall.

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