{"id":337122,"date":"2017-03-30T04:15:22","date_gmt":"2017-03-29T20:15:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techcrunch.com\/?p=1470556"},"modified":"2017-03-30T04:15:22","modified_gmt":"2017-03-29T20:15:22","slug":"facebook-will-launch-group-chatbots-at-f8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/facebook-will-launch-group-chatbots-at-f8\/","title":{"rendered":"Facebook will launch group chatbots at F8"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Facebook will reveal at its F8 conference a new class of group bots that work inside Messenger group chats. These group bots can keep users informed about real-time news such as a sports game\u2019s progress, ecommerce deliveries, and more, according to three sources familiar with the development of the feature.<\/p>\n

Facebook is already working with top chatbot makers to prepare for the launch. Facebook will open up APIs to allow more developers to start building group bots too. When asked for comment, a Facebook spokesperson said \u201cwe don\u2019t comment on rumors or speculation\u201d, but my sources confirm this is coming.<\/p>\n

For example, a Messenger group of a football fans could add a sports bot to their thread, where it could report score changes, big plays, and other news from the game. An\u00a0ecommerce group bot could keep a group of coworkers informed about the status of their lunch delivery, letting them know that the order is being prepared and when it\u2019s arrived.<\/p>\n

Facebook Messenger already features sports news bots from media property theScore and NBA team the Sacramento Kings, plus food delivery bots like Dominos. Soon they could be equipped to keep a whole group for friends in the know.<\/p>\n

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The group bots launch could address two big problems with the Messenger\u00a0bot platform Facebook launched<\/a> last year at F8 that TechCrunch had previously reported<\/a> was coming.<\/p>\n

First, the group bots will act more like news tickers instead of trying to pretend to be a human discussion partner. They\u2019re not really \u201cchatbots\u201d as much as \u201cinformation bots\u201d since people won\u2019t be having the same back-and-forth conversations as they do with one-on-one chatbots.<\/p>\n

Unripened AI technology and poor understanding of questions led many users to be disappointed with Facebook\u2019s chatbots. Facebook\u2019s head of Messenger David Marcus admitted at TechCrunch Disrupt<\/a> that \u201cThe problem was it got really overhyped, very, very quickly. The basic capabilities we provided at the time weren\u2019t good enough to basically replace traditional app interfaces and experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since these group bots won\u2019t be the sole conversation partner, there will be less pressure on them to act human, and more opportunity for them to service a specific utility.<\/p>\n

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Second, their existence in group chats will provide a viral growth mechanism for bots, which don\u2019t have easy discovery channels already.<\/p>\n

Currently, users have to type a bot\u2019s name into Messenger\u2019s search box to start a conversation with one. There\u2019s no native way to browse for bots, so businesses have to either get the bot\u2019s exact name drilled into people\u2019s heads through marketing or get them to initiate a conversation with a bot through a Facebook News Feed ad. That\u2019s led to the emergence of little-known third-party browsing options like Botlist.<\/p>\n

With group bots, one user could add a bot to a thread, thereby exposing its existence to other friends in the group. Both particular bots and the whole bots platform could see a rise in recognition and audience, which might attract higher profile developers and brands to build them.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s still unclear how exactly users will find and add bots to threads. Facebook doesn\u2019t have a bot store or suggester, but perhaps more bot discovery options will be part of the slew of announcements slated for Facebook\u2019s big yearly F8 development conference<\/a> on April 18th and 19th in San Jose. We\u2019ll be there to confirm today\u2019s scoop and provide analysis of the rest of the news Facebook reveals.<\/p>\n

While truly conversational AI will eventually rise to proficiency, Facebook is smart to refocus on group bot technology that can reliably solve real needs today.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Featured Image: Bryce Durbin\/TechCrunch<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"\" Facebook will reveal at its F8 conference a new class of group bots that work inside Messenger group chats. These group bots can keep users informed about real-time news such as a sports game’s progress, ecommerce deliveries, and more, according to three sources familiar with the development of the feature.
\nFacebook is already working with top chatbot makers to prepare for the launch. Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

\n<\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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