Bots are not only cheaper and faster to build than apps, they let companies engage consumers where they spend most of their mobile time: messaging platforms. Join us to understand why Facebook is going all in on chatbots for Messenger and brands as diverse as Staples, Bank of America, and Taco Bell are leading the bot charge — and bots are literally changing the conversation.
[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":1962323,"post_type":"vblive","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"bots,","session":"D"}']The robot invasion has begun! Or, to put it more accurately, the bot invasion has begun.
One of the hottest trends going on now in the tech industry is the use of bots — commonly called chatbots — for automating routine tasks or stimulating conversation with the user. We’ve reached the point where simulated AI conversations no longer feel like a bad 1960s sci-fi flick, but instead come across as a surprisingly on-point discussion of the user’s likes and dislikes, based on said user’s data.
We’re seeing companies take notice of the bot trend and wasting no time implementing it in their business, such as Foursquare’s Marsbot used to recommend eateries before you even ask, and The Weather Channel “How’s your weather?” Cola bubble, which inserts today’s weather forecast within online messaging. Paramount Pictures is even launching a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles themed chatbot on Kink to promote Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.
However, as bots rise in popularity, so to does the chance of being ripped off by bad bots. According to security firm Distil Network, 40 percent of all bot traffic is malicious. Unconcerned? You should be. The 2014 incident of a scalper using a “ticket bot” to illegally purchase 1,012 tickets to a U2 concert shows the real dangers of bad bots. Incidents like this may cause hesitation in investing in the bot revolution, despite the advantages it brings. And as good bots get better at mimicking human behavior, so to do the bad bots, making it harder to detect potential threats.
Yet security dangers apply to anything online, and bots provide strong opportunities for strengthening your bottom line. Just take a look at the success Activision had in generating 6 million bot message between Facebook users for hyping this year’s release of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. As with everything, you need to immerse yourself in the bot landscape in order to fully utilize their potential. That’s exactly why you should join this VB Live event!
Don’t miss out!
In addition, you’ll learn how to:
- Recognize bad as well as good bots and their implications for your business
- Understand the difference between chatbots and SMS
- Take advantage of developments in bot technology
- Identify the key players in the bot landscape
Speakers include:
- Paul English, Cofounder, Kayak
- Eugenia Kuyda, CEO, Luka
- Jon Cifuentes, Analyst, VentureBeat
- Wendy Schuchart, Moderator, VentureBeat