Chatbots are essentially programmed systems designed to simulate conversations with users. Historically, they operated through simple scripted dialogues and often struggled to manage real-world inquiries that required contextual understanding. This basic format primarily limited their utility in applications like customer service, where users tend to have complex questions that aren’t easily pre-scripted.
The introduction of advanced
Natural Language Processing (NLP) and
Machine Learning has caused a paradigm SHIFT in the effectiveness of chatbots. As discussed in sources like
Fierce Healthcare, modern chatbots can be trained using vast datasets to understand context, intent, & nuances in user queries. The evolution reached a critical juncture with the deployment of models like OpenAI's
GPT-3 and
BERT, making it possible for chatbots to learn from experiences rather than relying solely on scripted responses.