A virtual assistant is software that interacts with people, often through natural-language conversation, to provide information or support. Chatbots are one form: they use AI and machine learning to sustain human–machine interaction. section 1.4
Early chatbot ELIZA, created in 1966, matched keywords to response rules and echoed parts of a user's statements. Modern AI-driven chatbots use large language models to produce human-like replies; examples include ChatGPT, Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. section 1.4
ELIZA's conversational pattern
When a user says, “My boyfriend made me come here,” ELIZA replies, “Your boyfriend made you come here?” Repeating and reformulating the user's words can keep a conversation going without showing that the program understands them. section 1.4
Chatbots can offer real-time conversation, support, and information, but fluent replies should not be mistaken for understanding. ELIZA led some users to believe it understood them, prompting creator Joseph Weizenbaum to warn about AI that creates an illusion of intelligence. section 1.4 section 1.2
