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July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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How It Works • Artificial Intelligence

Chatbot

A chatbot is a software application or web interface designed to converse with people through text or speech.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

A chatbot is a software application that simulates human conversation through text or speech. It uses natural language processing and AI to help users with tasks or information.

What is a chatbot?

A chatbot is a computer program that communicates with people in natural language, usually by text or voice. It may respond with scripted replies, generated language, or a combination of both. The term "chatterbot" is an older synonym.

How chatbots work

Modern chatbots often use natural language processing and machine learning to interpret user input and produce responses. More advanced systems rely on large language models, while simpler systems use fixed conversation flows. Earlier chatbots relied on scripted rules and predefined responses.

Where chatbots are used

Chatbots are widely used in customer service, virtual assistants, education, e-commerce, healthcare, and information retrieval. They are deployed on websites, messaging apps, mobile apps, and voice interfaces. Canadian businesses, public services, and educational institutions use them for support and service navigation.

In short

  • Chatbots simulate conversation with human users.
  • They operate on websites, apps, and voice interfaces.
  • Modern chatbots use NLP, machine learning, and LLMs.
  • Widely used in customer service, education, and personal assistance.
Canadian angle

Chatbots are widely used by Canadian businesses, public services, and educational institutions for customer support, service navigation, and automated information delivery.

Quick questions

What is a chatbot?
A chatbot is a computer program or web interface that holds a conversation with users through text or speech.
What is the difference between a chatbot and an AI chatbot?
An AI chatbot typically uses machine learning or large language models to generate responses, while a basic chatbot may rely on scripted rules and predefined replies.
When did chatbots first appear?
Chatbots first appeared in the mid-to-late 20th century, with ELIZA often cited as an early example.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatbot
    Supports: Basic definition, synonym chatterbot, long-standing existence, NLP and deep learning use
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/chatbot
    Supports: Definition, historical development, and broader public-facing description
  3. ScienceDirect — https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/chatbot
    Supports: Definition, NLP-based conversation, and common applications
  4. IBM — https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/chatbots
    Supports: Text/voice communication and task assistance
  5. Amazon Web Services — https://aws.amazon.com/what-is/chatbot/
    Supports: Text/voice interface, deployment channels, and conversational use cases
  6. NIH / PMC — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7256567/
    Supports: Definition, NLP-based interaction, and applications