Chat Bots Aren't a Fad. They're a Revolution.

In August, the White House's chief digital officer announced a new way to catch President Obama's ear: a Messenger bot, allowing citizens to "speak" directly to the administration through their Facebook accounts. The U.S. government hasn't historically been an early adopter of new technology, so if it's embracing bots, you know they're having a moment. Earlier this year, I predicted that 2016 would be the year of "conversational commerce," my name for businesses introducing themselves into what had previously been personal messaging channels. Brands and companies have joined social media in droves, using the platforms as easy ways to broadcast content to their followers. Until recently, it was the rare exception that you could send a company a direct message and expect a useful reply.