Do people want to talk to bots?

Facebook now wants to expand your social circle in its messaging app, Messenger, beyond friends to include robots -- or chatbots -- that are powered by artificial intelligence, and designed to shop, search and generally just get things done for you. Facebook wants you to talk to robots. It's certainly a leap to think we, humans, want to connect with computer programs in the same space where we spill our guts to our closest pals, gossip with our co-workers and coordinate with family members to arrange life's most sacred events (weddings, funerals etc.). "It's not completely weird for people 35 or younger to interact with machines," said eMarketer analyst Yory Wursmer. "The freakout factor is gone."