Chatbots Are the Newest, Dumbest Co-Workers

Re:Chatbots Are the Newest, Dumbest Co-Workers by tyingq on Sunday May 08, 2016 @04:44PM (#11655716)

I'm old enough to remember the big push to replace IVR systems with web interfaces. With the business case being that customers had a huge preference for the web, since the interface was faster and more explicit.

So, for me, it's quite funny that I'm now going to be exposed to a bunch of new projects that essentially undo all of that. With no real net new functionality...these chatbots don't seem any more advanced than good IVR systems from the 90's.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Chatbots Are the Newest, Dumbest Co-Workers by gumby on Sunday May 08, 2016 @07:20PM (#11656502)

The IVR systems were mostly tree-structured while the bots attempt to be more freeform.

Note my use of the phrase "attempt to be". Occasionally they are!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Chatbots Are the Newest, Dumbest Co-Workers by ludamad on Sunday May 08, 2016 @05:14PM (#11655872)

Is it really that comparable? What were good IVR systems like to use?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Chatbots Are the Newest, Dumbest Co-Workers by tyingq on Sunday May 08, 2016 @05:54PM (#11656120)

I think it was. Here's an old article that covers the "what's old is new again angle": https://books.google.com/books?id=WG785CwKw4cC&pg=PA76&lpg=P...

[ Parent | on HN ]