Chatbot | EPFL Graph Search

Are you an EPFL student looking for a semester project?

Work with us on data science and visualisation projects, and deploy your project as an app on top of GraphSearch.

A chatbot (originally chatterbot) is a software application that aims to mimic human conversation through text or voice interactions, typically online. Modern chatbots are artificial intelligence (AI) systems that are capable of maintaining a conversation with a user in natural language and simulating the way a human would behave as a conversational partner. Such technologies often utilize aspects of deep learning and natural language processing. Recently this field has gained widespread attention due to the popularity of OpenAI's ChatGPT, followed by alternatives such as Microsoft's Bing Chat (which uses OpenAI's GPT-4) and Google's Bard. Such examples reflect the recent practice of such products being built based upon broad foundational large language models that get fine-tuned so as to target specific tasks or applications (i.e. simulating human conversation, in the case of chatbots). Chatbots can also be designed or customized to further target even more specific situations and/or particular subject-matter domains. A major area where chatbots have long been used is in customer service and support, such as with various sorts of virtual assistants. Recently, companies spanning various industries have begun using the latest generative artificial intelligence technologies to power more advanced developments in such areas. In 1950, Alan Turing's famous article "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" was published, which proposed what is now called the Turing test as a criterion of intelligence. This criterion depends on the ability of a computer program to impersonate a human in a real-time written conversation with a human judge to the extent that the judge is unable to distinguish reliably—on the basis of the conversational content alone—between the program and a real human. The notoriety of Turing's proposed test stimulated great interest in Joseph Weizenbaum's program ELIZA, published in 1966, which seemed to be able to fool users into believing that they were conversing with a real human.

About this result

This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.

Related publications (2)

Related people (2)

Related concepts (56)

Related courses (9)

Related lectures (48)

Related MOOCs (1)

Enjeux Mondiaux - Communication

The Communication A module of the course on Global Issues tackles challenges related to instantaneous communication and social media. The interdisciplinary approach implemented integrates SHS and engi

User Expectations of Conversational Chatbots Based on Online Reviews

Pearl Pu Faltings, Ekaterina Svikhnushina, Alexandru Placinta

Open-domain chatbots that can engage in a conversation on any topic received significant attention in the last several years, which opened opportunities for studying user interaction with them. Drawin

ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY2021

Key Qualities of Conversational Chatbots - the PEACE Model

Pearl Pu Faltings, Ekaterina Svikhnushina

Open-domain chatbots engage in natural conversations with the user to socialize and establish bonds. However, designing and developing an effective open-domain chatbot is challenging. It is unclear wh

ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY2021

Virtual assistant

A virtual assistant (VA) is a software agent that can perform a range of tasks or services for a user based on user input such as commands or questions, including verbal ones. Such technologies often incorporate chatbot capabilities to simulate human conversation, such as via online chat, to facilitate interaction with their users. The interaction may be via text, graphical interface, or voice - as some virtual assistants are able to interpret human speech and respond via synthesized voices.

Turing test

The Turing test, originally called the imitation game by Alan Turing in 1950, is a test of a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behaviour equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human. Turing proposed that a human evaluator would judge natural language conversations between a human and a machine designed to generate human-like responses. The evaluator would be aware that one of the two partners in conversation was a machine, and all participants would be separated from one another.

Chatbot

EE-593: Social media

MGT-502: Data science and machine learning

This class provides a hands-on introduction to data science and machine learning topics, exploring areas such as regression, classification, clustering, dimensionality reduction, text analytics, and n

HUM-485: Data in context: Critical Data Studies I

Le cours "Critical Data Studies" s'inscrit dans la nouvelle offre d'enseignements TILT qui propose de croiser des savoirs provenant des SHS et des sciences de l'ingénieur afin d'aborder des thématique

Digital Transformation: Conclusion MOOC: Humanitarian Action in the Digital Age

Concludes the chapter on digital transformation, emphasizing business strategy alignment and enabling technologies.

Introduction to Renku HUM-485: Data in context: Critical Data Studies I

Introduces Renku, a platform for collaborative data science, emphasizing reproducibility, shareability, reusability, and security.

Exergy and Thermodynamics ME-251: Thermodynamics and energetics I

Explores exergy, entropy, and thermodynamic efficiencies in closed and open systems.