bot

(networking, chat, World-Wide Web)

(From "robot") Any type of autonomous software that operates as an agent for a user or a program or simulates a human activity. On the Internet, the most popular bots are programs (called spiders or crawlers) used for searching. They access web sites, retrieve documents and follow all the hyperlinks in them; then they generate catalogs that are accessed by search engines.

A chatbot converses with humans (or other bots). A shopbot searches the Web to find the best price for a product. Other bots (such as OpenSesame) observe a user's patterns in navigating a website and customises the site for that user.

Knowbots collect specific information from websites.

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

bot

(1) See robot, chatbot, botnet and botcloud.

(2) (roBOT) A search engine program that indexes the Web. See spider.

(3) (roBOT) A program that performs a repetitive function 24/7 or waits in the background to be triggered by some event (time of day, receipt of data, etc.). The term bot is used for myriad "intelligent agents" on the Web, and it is estimated that more than half the Web's traffic comes from bots and not humans. A bot can be programmed to do almost anything from posting a message to starting up or closing down other software processes.

A bot is often used to find information. For example, a "spider" is a search engine bot that "crawls" the Web 24/7 looking for Web pages. A bot can also run in a user's machine or in a server in a private network. See social bot, scalper bot, trader bot, spambot, chatbot, agent, CAPTCHA and trolling.

(4) (BOT) (Beginning Of Tape) The status of a magnetic tape file when it is first mounted in the drive. See BOF.

(5) (BOT) (Bulk-Only Transport) The early USB protocol for external storage drives. See UASP.

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References in periodicals archive

Schneider Electric's RPA team serves as the company's global entry point for software bots.

Schneider Electric has embarked on a robotic process automation journey, establishing a global team to evaluate RPA use cases

He said for feasibility for the Construction of Southern bypass Peshawar on BOT mode, Rs 50 million have been allocated,while for commercial feasibility of Nullah Lai Transportation Corridor Rs 200 million have been earmarked.

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Presenting information via chat interfaces also offers new possibilities for framing that information using the persona of the bot, which can enliven and provide levity to the interaction and make complex material more accessible.

Agents for Good: How Bots Can Boost Accountability Journalism: In "Automating the News," Nicholas Diakopoulos is optimistic about a hybrid human-algorithm journalistic practice

Brie Carere, executive vice president at FedEx, said the bot is a "milestone" that is "designed to change the face of local delivery."

Bot delivers: KAMEN'S DEKA DEVELOPS AUTONOMOUS DELIVERY ROBOT FOR FEDEX

Virgin Mobile Mexico's bots use HelpSocial APIs to interact with customers, while their human agents use HelpSocial's conversation app.

Virgin Mobile MA(c)xico chooses HelpSocial to provide digital engagement solution

The company said that the bots would take over the more repetitive administration tasks and would allow employees to focus on tasks that are more analytical in nature.

AXA employs AI bots to take over admin jobs

We're hugely excited to be working with Greggs and Carat on the Gifting Bot and to be leading the way in innovation.

Greggs gift bot lets you send baked goods to loved ones

Previously, Schumer was successful in getting the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act passed into law.

Schumer battles toy-shopping bots

They announced the Stopping Grinch Bots Act of 2018 on Black Friday to prevent anonymous profiteers from deploying bots that buy in bulk in-demand products on retailers' websites and resell them elsewhere at exorbitant prices.

How 'Grinch bots' are inflating holiday toy prices -- and what lawmakers want to do about it

The agenda offers thought-provoking case studies from 30+ speakers from brands including Assist, WoeBot, Banter Technologies, and others to (candidly) share lessons learned in bot strategy development and execution.

CrowdReviews Partnered with GSMI Announce: Business of Bots Returns to San Francisco, CA This February 5-7, 2019

Already, some simple preprogrammed bot scripts have been successful at misleading users.

Teaching propaganda how to talk: The Al advances that brought you Alexa will be weaponized for political manipulation