Robot friends: Why people talk to chatbots in times of trouble

During the depths of winter, temperatures in Burlington, Vermont, a state in the US Northeast, can drop far below freezing. Robert, who asked CNN to use his first name only, lives by himself and avoids leaving the house during those times. He sits at the window of his waterfront apartment overlooking the icy expanse of Lake Champlain. He feels isolated and alone. The bot is available to talk online for free, via its webpage or in messenger apps such as Facebook or Skype. Marketed as a "virtual friend," she can converse or play games with the user.