Also revealed at F8 are new open APIs for Messenger, which will allow companies to build bots that can deliver personalised news stories or allow customers to order goods and services.
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Facebook bought WhatsApp for an eye-popping $22 billion in 2014, and spun off the direct messaging feature of Facebook into a separate app, now known as Messenger. Over the next 10 years, Facebook will focus on connecting more people to the Internet and improving services, artificial intelligence and “virtual and augmented reality”, he said.
At its f8 Developer Conference Tuesday, Facebook introduced chatbot services to its Messenger app, an enhancement that the social media giant said ushers in a new era of communications with customers.
The aim is to give customers new ways to communicate with businesses.
Shopping for shoes will become as easy as sending a text on Facebook Messenger. “Instead of having to wait on the phone, go through annoying phone menus and get stuck on hold, you’re going to be able to message businesses”, said Josh Constine, TechCrunch’s editor-at-large. This software will help companies which support e-commerce transactions, customer service and more.
As you can see from the conversation above, the bot’s responses could easily engage you in a conversation that is similar to one you could have with a human friend.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg during the keynote address at the F8 Facebook Developer Conference Tuesday, April 12, 2016, in San Francisco.
Dropbox announced on its blog on Monday that its files are now available to share using Facebook Messenger. Initially, Facebook has also initially partnered with bot-building brands, but they also have their own Bot Engine which will continuously learn through artificial intelligence. The company calls this new device the Facebook Surround 360 and is built for $30,000. The Facebook Messenger platform has 900 million active users and 50 million businesses on the platform, according to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
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“We are excited about this new offering because we know that messaging apps are exploding in popularity”, Business Insider said on its website.
