Skype is Getting Cortana and Crazy Bot Messaging (theverge.com)

An anonymous reader writes: During its Build conference, Microsoft demoed how Skype users would be able to book trips, shop, and plan their schedule, just by chatting with Cortana. "Cortana is brokering the conversation with a third-party bot," says Lilian Rincon, Skype's program manager. Essentially, Skype will know which company or service you want to talk to, bring a new bot into your chat to help out, and then get rid of the bot when you're done. Video bots may also be in the works as Rincon mentioned, "We will also be bringing intelligence into real-time video." The new features are very similar to Facebook's "Messenger Bot Store," which the company announced at F8. Facebook's AI-powered assistant, called M, would enable Messenger users to make purchases, restaurant reservations, and travel bookings within the messaging interface, similar to Cortana but with more human input.

Comments

Bias

[johnsmithperson123]

Q. Cortana, how do I install Windows 10 on my computer? A. Here's how: (switches over to Windows 10 install bot) Hmm. Q. Cortana, how do I install Windows 7 on my computer? A. Here's how to install Windows: (Switches over to Windows 10 install bot) Wait a second... Q. Cortana, where can I buy a Mac? A. I'm not sure what you're talking about, but if you meant "where to buy a Windows Phone" (switches over to Microsoft Store bot) Hold on.... Q. Cortana, how do I install Debian? A. Error: Customer 11-784-9281 is about to leave Windows 10. Close the blast doors. Repeat, close the blast doors. Q. Uuhh.. *Explosion*

Telemarketer troll bot?

[mspohr]

Do they have something which could keep a telemarketer occupied for 45 minutes or so? I could totally get behind that.