Chatbots: Hype or the real deal?

Last December, Starbucks announced "My Starbucks Barista," a virtual barista for its mobile app that enables customers to place orders via voice command or messaging interface. This led me to consider the current perception of artificial intelligence and where it stands in relation to the current reality of the technology. Are chatbots the real deal or yet another victim of hyped technology? If you ask me, chatbots are still in the hype phase within the public eye and don't deserve a fraction of the attention they currently receive. While this may sound harsh, it's important to understand the difference between potential and intrinsic value, just like with any other new technology. You may be asking, if a brand as large as Starbucks is launching a chatbot, how can AI and chatbots still be considered hype?