big interface
Facebook is betting the next big interface is conversation
Back in 2015, chatbots were big. And one of the most hyped ones was Facebook's M, which the company meant to be a flexible, general-purpose bot that could do lots of different things such as purchase items, arrange gift deliveries, reserve restaurant tables, and plan travel. But the buzz was far bigger than the bot. When Facebook tested M with a group of 2,500 people in the Bay Area, the software failed to carry out most of the tasks it was asked to do. After the initial burst of enthusiasm for M and other chatbots ("bots are the new apps," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella proclaimed), a wave of disappointment followed.