UCI Libraries' Chatbot Files (ANTswers)

Chatbots (also known as conversational agents, artificial conversation entities, or chatterboxes) are computer applications that imitate human personality. Chatbotscan be used to augment and bridge gaps in library services and are meant to enhance, not replace, face to face communication or interaction. A Chatbot can walkpatrons through basic tasks like renewing items online, ordering ILL materials, and searching for materials in catalogs and databases. Using the open-source software, Program-O and the AIML programming language the UC Irvine Libraries are currently developing a library chatbot. The presenter will share the project planning process, share the basics of AIML, and demo the beta bot.