In a tech-savvy world, knowing AI is like having a secret superpower. It opens doors to endless possibilities, from smarter gadgets and cooler apps on the user level to scientific breakthroughs all around the globe. Embracing AI means riding the wave of innovation, staying ahead in the game, and maybe even changing the world along the way.
But all great deeds start from a comprehensive understanding of the subject itself. In this laconic writing, you’ll find out what stands behind the term Artificial Intelligence as we know it today, its types, abilities, and purposes. And for those who prefer less text and more code, we’ve prepared a set of clear guidelines for creating your first simple chatbot.
What everyone should know about AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI), first conceptualized by Alan Turing, aims to replicate human-like intelligence in computers. It applies a diverse range of methods and technologies, such as machine learning and natural language processing. The prior goal is to develop systems capable of learning, adapting, and performing tasks that traditionally demand human intellect.
With time, certain classifications of AI made the picture clearer.
- Weak AI (Narrow AI). Systems designed for specific limited tasks without a broad range of intellectual abilities. Voice assistants, speech recognition systems, and algorithm-predicting outcomes may fit this category.
- Strong AI (General AI). Systems with strong AI that can apply the full spectrum of human intelligence, handle specific tasks and learn new ones, and adjust multiple decisions for various situations. This type of AI even resembles consciousness and self-awareness. However, creating truly strong AI is a long-term goal and remains the object of intense research.
- Superintelligence. A hypothetical level where the abilities and comprehension of AI go beyond human perception. The topic of superintelligence raises ethical, social, and even safety concerns. Some may claim that the uprising of superintelligence automatically leads to human downfall. The good news is that it’s debatable, so let’s not stop on the negative side of something that doesn’t exist.
Now, when the root term is unveiled, we can step down to something more specific like AI assistants that are actually present in our daily routines.
Common AI Assistants
An AI assistant is designed to interact with users and handle tasks of different complexity. These assistants can follow commands, answer questions, manage devices and online content.
AI assistants can also be divided into categories:
- Voice Assistants. For setting alarms, playing music, or managing smart home devices.
- Task-Based Assistants. For scheduling meetings, sending emails, and organizing documents.
- Prediction Assistants. For predicting user needs, managing tasks and providing relevant information even without the request.
Examples include Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Google Now, and Cortana.
You may find it useful: Why you can’t fully rely on ChatGPT
Creating an AI chatbot — anyone can do it
The process of creating a chatbot is relatively straightforward compared to developing other AI models.
According to the general statistics, 62% prefer digital customer service assistants over waiting for a manager. Additionally, 65% feel comfortable resolving issues without human help. Chatbots are an effective solution, improving user experience, increasing customer retention, and driving sales with personalized interactions.
As for the initial programming language, we recommend using Python for artificial intelligence tasks. Python is often considered one of the most suitable programming languages for AI. Its user-friendly nature and adaptability have made it a popular choice among professional developers and even conventional users.
So, let’s take a look at the actual development process.
Step 1: Be polite. Set up greetings and goodbyes first place.
Make two lists named “greetings” and “farewells.” Inside the square brackets ([]), give your AI chatbot a few greetings and goodbyes.
Step 2: Create keywords and responses that are familiar to your AI chatbot.
Name these lists “keywords” and “responses.” Make sure that the keywords and responses are in the same order. For example, if a user types something with the keyword “electronics,” the AI chatbot replies, “I can help you choose the right electronics for your needs.”
Step 3: Incorporate the random module.
Your AI chatbot should be able to select a random greeting and farewell every time a user engages with it for the purpose of variety. You’ll need to import the random module with a simple command. Include the following line at the beginning of your program (the very first line):
Select a random greeting from the list of greetings. After the lists are created, add:
This line will pick a random greeting from the list and display it.
We can also use the input function to show a request to the user and get their response. We should store their answer in a variable to utilize it in our program.
Step 4: Continue interacting with the user until they say “goodbye.”
We can use a while loop to keep engaging with the user until they mention “goodbye.” This loop will repeat its set of instructions as long as the user’s response is not “goodbye.”
Step 5: Check if the user’s response includes a keyword the AI chatbot recognizes.
In the while loop, we need to check if the user’s reply has a keyword the AI chatbot already knows. We used a for loop to go through the whole list of keywords. If the keyword at the current position matches any part of the user’s response, we’ll print the corresponding reply from the response list.
Step 6: Introduce a new keyword and response to the AI chatbot.
If the user’s response doesn’t include a keyword already known by the AI chatbot, we need to teach it how to answer. Let’s start by updating our while and for loops using a variable named “keyword_found.” At the beginning of the while loop, we’ll set it to false, indicating it hasn’t been found yet. We’ll set the “keyword_found” variable to true in the if statement within the for loop.
We’ll include an if statement inside the while loop but outside the for loop to check if “keyword_found” is false. If the user’s response doesn’t include a keyword that our AI chatbot already knows, we’ll ask the user which keyword we should learn and how to respond. Then, we’ll add the new keyword and response to the lists using the append function.
Step 7: Choose a random farewell when the user says “bye.”
When the user says “bye,” the while loop ends. Outside of the loop, let’s pick a random farewell to show the user as a goodbye message.
Of course, the features of our homemade chatbot are limited. You’ll likely still need to enlist the help of a specialist if you wish to seek serious business opportunities. All the same, we hope that this instance has made the picture of the surrounding tech world more vivid.
Thanks for reading
You can address Vilmate specialists for a free consultation regarding any existing or upcoming projects of yours, be it AI injections, front-end design, or consultuncy services.
If the topic was engaging, you can find more details in the full article from our Blog, along with other IT-related writings.
Click for more: Creating an AI Assistant: Handy Insights from Vilmate
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