Here's what bots can do for you

David Marcus, who heads Facebook's Messenger platform, tells Jefferson Graham how automated chat bots can improve the shopping and customer service experience, on #TalkingTech. SAN FRANCISCO - Clicking a buy button on a website is so 20th century. Now the next big thing is conversing with a computerized robot. Facebook made a splash here at its F8 conference for developers by showcasing how businesses can participate in Messenger, the 900-million-person-strong communication tool for family and friends. Apps, Messenger chief David Marcus told us, are yesterday, while computerized shopping and customer service assistants are today, and very much tomorrow.