Microsoft prepares for the arrival of an army of robots "smart"

Microsoft intends to go beyond Cortana regarding the tools for personal digital assistants and aims to create a true platform for the creation of bot "smart", defined those with the ability to understand the needs of users by applying machine learning algorithms and potentially able to be integrated in any app and platform. Everything unfolds starting from the concept of "conversations as platform", repeatedly reaffirmed at the Build 2016, namely the desire to take advantage of the typical form of human language communication to improve the interaction with apps and services that are commonly managed through more "traditional digital tools" such as graphical interfaces, web or touch screen smartphone and tablet.

In Microsoft's vision, the bots become the equivalent of the applications, while digital assistants, such as Cortana, become meta applications and potential replacements for the traditional web browser. The glue that holds together the elements of the platform (bots and digital assistants) passing through the machine learing algorithms (hopefully, refined to such an extent as to avoid undesirable outcomes, such as that due to the recent case of Tay - see. Previous news) allow to interact naturally with bots, using the colloquial language that is usually used with human counterparts.

To give substance to the project, Microsoft has announced at the Build 2016, Bot Framework, a development platform that will offer the possibility to create and integrate the bot within apps and services accessible via PC, tablet and smartphone. In the present framework, Microsoft points out that users can interact naturally with bots controlling simple functions, such as sending a text message to get to the more complex such as those related to the management of specific aspects of Slack, Office 365 , mail clients, and other popular services. Interested developers can find useful information by connecting to the official website.

A good example that makes the idea of ​​how the bots will operate and how they will be integrated into existing app is offered by Skype. Chats Skype will support the interaction with bots on desktop platform, iOS, Android and Hololens, initially within the text chat and later also during voice and video calls. On the occasion of Build 2016, Microsoft demonstrated how it is possible, for example, book hotels, order a pizza and take advantage of many other services through a simple voice interaction with the Skype chat. A new version of Skype with support for bot is available in preview version for Android platforms, iOS and Windows.

The data that should be stated at the outset is that the bots are not intended to take the place of digital assistants like Cortana, who will always be available in Windows 10; on the contrary, Cortana - as said - will be the meta-application to control all the bots via voice chat functions that Windows 10 users have already learned how to use and appreciate; Reinforcing the digital assistant functionality of Windows 10, then, and not an alternative instrument. An undoubtedly interesting project, which is in the efficiency of the machine learning algorithms, the main unknown factor to ensure the effective dissemination.