Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have become increasingly common over the past few years, mostly due to the rise of models such as ChatGPT and Google Bard. From customer service bots to voice-activated personal assistants like Siri and Alexa, chatbots are changing how we interact with technology. When used properly, chatbots can be extremely helpful in completing tasks and providing information. However, the biggest challenge that comes with chatbots is using it efficiently. If you don't know how to properly communicate with a chatbot, the experience can be frustrating. In this post, I'll provide some tips on how to properly use AI chatbots to ensure you have the best experience.
First, it is important to understand the prime functionality and basis behind a chatbot. Essentially, a chatbot is a computer program designed to simulate human conversation. Using artificial intelligence and natural language processing, chatbots can understand human language and respond in kind. Their conversational abilities might be text-based or voice-based. Popular uses for chatbots include customer service, virtual assistants, and online shopping.
There are many reasons businesses and consumers are increasingly relying on AI chatbots. Some key benefits include:
- 24/7 availability - Chatbots are always ready to respond, which is ideal for customer service and satisfaction
- Quick response times - Chatbots are able to give much quicker answers as compared to humans.
- Personalization - Advanced chatbots can understand context and tailor responses to individual users.
- Cost savings - Chatbots require less supervision and maintenance than human staffing.
To ensure your interactions with chatbots are as efficient as possible, keep these best practices in mind:
- Use Clear and Concise Language: Avoid using complex sentences to simplify the task for the chatbot. If needed, split up the task into two separate inquiries instead of one long inquiry. For example, if I want a summary of a book, I may ask the chatbot to give an unfiltered summary before asking it to shorten its previous response or change the tone of the sentences
- Avoid Slang Terms or Acronyms the chatbot may not recognize. If you do wish to incorporate these in your question, make sure to include their definitions and other key information about it so the chatbot understands what it is
- Set up Context When Needed: While it is important to pose your inquiries as simple questions, oftentimes you may need a lengthy and personalized response. In these instances, it is important to provide some background information so the chatbot can give the best answer. For example, if I wished to travel to Europe, and I enjoy ancient architecture, I may ask the chatbot to suggest locations for me to visit that consist of ancient monuments or buildings.
- Avoid Vague or Open-Ended Questions: Think of the chatbot as another human answering, so make it easy as possible to answer your question
- Stick to One Question at a Time: Overloading the chatbot may cause it to crash and force you to re-enter your initial question.
-Make your follow-up questions clear: If you wish the chatbot to answer a similar question, use phrases such as “based on the last question” so the chatbot refers to the information you already submitted to answer your next inquiry.
- Be Patient: Allow time for the chatbot to process your request and respond. Resist the urge to repetitively re-ask your question.
- Expect Errors: Remember that like humans, chatbots can make occasional mistakes. Rephrase your question if the response seems off.
- Acknowledge Mistakes: Provide feedback to the chatbot if a response is inaccurate so it can continue improving.
- Reword your Requests: Try rephrasing your question in different ways if the chatbot seems to misunderstand.
While chatbots provide many benefits, it's also important to keep privacy and ethics in mind:
- Be aware that chatbots store data from your interactions to improve their algorithms over time.
- Make sure to understand and feel comfortable with the chatbot's privacy policy before using.
- Realize chatbots have some human biases built into their programming that need ongoing improvements.
- Understand that chatbots have some limitations in comprehending human emotion and complex situations.
When used properly following these tips, chatbots can provide immense value as digital assistants. Approach your chatbot interactions with patience and speak in simple, straightforward language. Over time, the conversational abilities of chatbots will continue to improve. But for now, adjust your expectations and methods to get the most benefit from AI chatbots.
.png)