Chatbots have been around for decades, with the earliest version, ELIZA, released in 1967 as a simple rules-based program.
Jabberwocky in the 1980s enabled voice interaction, while A.L.I.C.E. in the 1990s allowed responses to prompt to inform future responses.
The shift from rules-based chatbots to data-driven models was driven by advancements in compute power and availability of data.
The development of large language models like ChatGPT, using GPT-3 architecture, enabled more varied and conversational responses.
Open-source machine learning libraries like PyTorch and TensorFlow have made developing chatbots more accessible for businesses.
Cost remains a barrier for heavy-duty chatbot use cases, with the need to consider GPU usage and model parameters.
Multi-modal models are the future of chatbots, allowing interactions through text, speech, imagery, video, and audio, enhancing creative capabilities.
Retrieval augmented generation (RAG) architectures empower chatbots to draw on proprietary data for advanced enterprise use cases.
As chatbots evolve with technologies like RAG systems and AI agents, the innovation potential for organizations is vast, promising efficiency gains.
In the future, multi-modal models and evolving technologies will continue to enhance the capabilities and efficiency of chatbots in various industries.