Why not use a chat bot?
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Chatbots, while increasingly sophisticated, have numerous limitations that necessitate caution in their use:
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Accuracy Issues: Chatbots can produce text that sounds authoritative but often insert errors, fabricate quotations, and even make up entire stories. This necessitates double-checking any information they provide 1 2.
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Backend Dependence: The effectiveness of a chatbot is heavily reliant on the backend infrastructure (e.g., Google's, Amazon's). If the conversational interface is inadequate or the backend processing is poor, it leads to subpar user experiences 3.
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Misnomer Concern: The term "chatbot" can be misleading as it oversimplifies the technology involved. They are often just interfaces rather than truly autonomous agents, potentially leading to unrealistic user expectations 4.
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Complexity and Over-Promising: Complex interactions requiring advanced artificial intelligence are not fully feasible yet, making it vital to manage user expectations by keeping the chatbot's functions simple and transparent 2 1.
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Potential for Misuse: Examples like Microsoft's Tay chatbot, which was quickly shut down after being manipulated to produce offensive content, illustrate how easily chatbots can be derailed by malicious users 5.
Despite these issues, chatbots can still be valuable for specific, controlled applications like preliminary customer support or basic information delivery, provided their limitations are acknowledged and managed effectively.
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