Ask HN: As a developer how often you need to build chatbots/voicebots?

1 points by bloodcarter 5 years ago | 4 comments

I am curious for often you have to deal with such tasks? People tend to think that using conversational AI is something only AI developers should do. But before Twilio making phone calls or sending sms also was something out of the scope of regular web developer... thoughts?

newsbinator 5 years ago |

As a developer, I hate when the services I use have chatbots that I'm forced to interact with, even as front-line help before taking me to a human agent.

I don't know where I'd land if a client offered me good money to make them a support chatbot.

bloodcarter 5 years ago | |

You mean you think you could create a chatbot that doesn't suck ? Could you please elaborate on that a little bit :)

newsbinator 5 years ago | | |

I mean I wouldn't want to perpetuate something that I hate using myself.

It's not unethical, like if I were to build software for a cigarette company or something.

But if I hate chatbots, no matter how much I'm being paid, I shouldn't be building chatbots. That said, obviously there's a dollar amount at which I'd be swayed.

monkeybutton 5 years ago |

What exactly is the benefit of using a chatbot over a regular web form? At least with a form I can see everything I need upfront rather than a chatbot that obscures all the options.

jmercouris 5 years ago |

Never, I've never had to do it, nor have I met someone who has.