Apple Launches Business Chat

Well, isn't’ this timing convenient. On the heels of Facebook being in some serious hot water, halting all new apps and bots, Apple announces Business Chat. Similar to Messenger, businesses will now be able to communicate with their customers on their preferred messaging channel. Today only a handful of companies are part of the launch, including Home Depot, Marriott, and Wells Fargo. While this may put a dent in Messenger’s marketshare in the US, we find it hard to believe that this will do much on a global scale in the next year. We’re excited because it's one step closer to putting bots on the forefront of the public domain.

Your First AI Project: Avoid Customer-facing Chatbots

Wow. Quite the polemic write up! Brace yourselves. This article, written about a recent Forrester study, delves into the opportunity for bots and AI *behind* the firewall, vs. customer facing. That because “many employees spend about 15% of their days navigating legacy systems” there is an even greater need for automations within a company’s operations, and as a result, customer-facing bots should be put on hold till the NLP catches up. We work both inside and outside the firewall and agree that there’s a significant opportunity there too. However, it’s dangerous to wait for the consumer facing stuff, if for no other reason than the training data won’t magically appear overnight, “when you’re ready.” It takes time to collect so the sooner you start--on all fronts--the better. He who hath the transcripts, hath the smartest bots. 

Facebook Confirms it Spies on Your Messenger Conversations

Say it with us, people: DUH. Can everyone please calm down about this. OBVIOUSLY Facebook is scanning your messenger content and if you’re aghast by that, then get off the internet. See: this Tweet. Do Millennials and younger even care about privacy? Pretty sure that is just the ravings of grouchy baby boomers. Gen Z lives in fear of permanence more than anything else. Settle down, everyone. Nevertheless, if they suddenly stopped new bots and are revisiting every single API, it is because something pretty bad was going on.

Everything You Need To Know From Microsoft's VP Of AI And Research

A fantastic interview with one of our favorite “FemBots.” She touches on her favorite use cases, like Equadex’s Helpicto, an in-app bot that helps children on the Autism spectrum communicate and verbalize their thoughts in order to successfully navigate their world by providing a visual representation of language. A great read and insight into how Microsoft’s chief bot-head is imagining the future.