Chatbots have an operating system problem

Sophisticated chatbots have, in no uncertain terms, emerged as a reality that businesses and consumers must prepare for. The media is all over this one. At the same time, looking at the spaces where these bots operate, the number of separate messaging programs with active users in (or headed into) the billions has created a fragmented marketplace. At the top tier there's WeChat, QQ, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Apple iMessage, Skype, and Viber, with SnapChat, Line, Slack, Kik, Google, and Samsung holding the potential to join the billion user club if and when they see fit to make it a priority. There are hundreds of messaging apps with small and mid-sized user bases, not to mention the vast audiences that prefer SMS, email, and services like Twitter for communication.