Skip to content
Know.itKnow.it
Create an animated lesson
On request

This article is free to read. Creating a lesson uses your daily or stored credits; review the language and settings before starting.

What is a chatbot?

TechnologyLesson on requestFree to read

Quick answer

A chatbot is a program that converses with people in natural language, by text or voice. Simple ones follow scripted rules, while modern AI chatbots use large language models to understand questions and generate flexible, human-like replies. It simulates conversation in natural language.

Key things to understand

  1. It simulates conversation in natural language.
  2. Rule-based bots follow fixed scripts and keywords.
  3. AI chatbots use language models to generate flexible replies.
  4. They power customer service, assistants, and search.
  5. Modern ones can handle open-ended, multi-turn conversations.

People also ask

How does a chatbot understand me?
Modern chatbots use large language models that interpret your words by patterns learned from huge amounts of text, then generate a fitting reply.
What's the difference between old and new chatbots?
Older ones followed rigid scripts and keywords; AI chatbots flexibly understand and respond to almost anything you type.
Are chatbots always right?
No — AI chatbots can sound confident yet be wrong, so important answers should be verified against reliable sources.