Why The Chatbot Wars Won't Be Like iOS Vs. Android

Creating a new mobile app used to begin with a simple question: iOS or Android? And if you believe the hype about chatbots (intelligent helpers that users can summon via instant message), the decision is about to get much more complicated. Tech companies like Facebook, Microsoft, and Slack are all opening up bot platforms within their messaging services, letting users read the news, shop online, hail an Uber, and get customer service within a messaging window. The idea is to allow for quick interactions that don't require installing a full-blown app. But even as these companies build up their chatbot armies, we're probably not headed for another bitter ecosystem war, like the one that led to the dominance of iOS and Android.