Also known as: chatterbot (Show more) chatbot, computer program designed to have interactive or automated conversation with humans. Rudimentary chatbots were first developed in the mid-to-late 20th century and became more technically sound and widely available in the late 2010s and early 2020s, especially as artificial intelligence (AI) gained prominence in the technology sphere. The idea for the technology that preceded chatbot programs was first conceptualized by British mathematician and logician Alan Turing. In 1950 Turing proposed a set of criteria to determine whether a computer was sentient. The premise of the test was that a remote human interrogator, within a fixed time frame, must distinguish ...(100 of 781 words) Access the full article Help support true facts by becoming a member. Subscribe today!