What are these chatbots?

A chatbot is a kind of digital conversation partner – a special programme with which we can communicate in much the same way as we would with another person, by typing messages on a keyboard or simply speaking into a device. These assistants are most commonly found on the websites of banks, government departments or online shops. Their main purpose is to make our lives easier: they can help us place an order, explain how to fill in a form, or advise us on what to do if a household appliance breaks down.

It’s worth knowing that these assistants fall into two categories. The first acts a bit like a ‘smart listener’ – it tries to understand the meaning of what we say and even learns our way of speaking. The longer we talk to it, the more accurately it can respond to us.

The second type is a bit simpler and resembles an answering machine – it has a pre-prepared list of ready-made answers and relies solely on the knowledge its creator has programmed into it. If we ask it a question that isn’t on its list, it may not be able to help us.

Although these programmes are very convenient and allow you to obtain information quickly without having to wait to be put through to an advisor, you must exercise the same caution with them as you would when speaking to a stranger.

The most important rule is to protect your personal details: your national identity number, bank passwords and payment card numbers. Unfortunately, some scammers create fake programmes that pose as assistants solely to extort money or send out unsolicited adverts. If we bear this in mind, such digital assistants will become a safe and helpful resource for us in our day-to-day affairs.