Facebook Introduces Chatbots for Messenger, Pushes Further Into Live Video

[MacRumors]

As was rumored last week, Facebook today announced plans to bring chatbot support to its Messenger platform. At the Facebook F8 Developer Conference, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg demonstrated a Messenger chatbot on stage, using the Messenger platform to order flowers from 1-800-Flowers through a text conversation.

"To order from 1-800-Flowers, you never have to call 1-800-Flowers again," said Zuckerberg, explaining that Facebook chatbots are designed to allow users and businesses to connect together in new ways. "You don't have to install an app or enter your credit card."

Developers will be able to build chat programs to interface with users. These will range from product-based companies like 1-800-Flowers to news companies like CNN, another one of Facebook's partners.

Facebook also plans to expand its Live Video feature, which has proven popular with users and public figures. According to Zuckerberg, Live Videos on Facebook garner 10 times more comments than standard videos, which is one of the reasons Facebook recently began rolling out a prominent video tab in the Facebook app to allow users to quickly access live videos from friends and other people.

Starting today, Facebook is opening up its Live Video API, allowing the feature to be built into any device. One of Facebook's early launch partners is drone company DJI, and drone live streaming video was shown on stage.

Over the next five years, Zuckerberg says Messenger Platform and Live Video will be built up over the next five years, and over the next 10 years, Facebook will focus on connectivity, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality.

Other features announced today include Facebook Accounts and a Save button for developers. Facebook Accounts will allow users to use Facebook's sign in feature for apps and services with just a phone number, eliminating the need to remember a username and password. With Accounts, a sign in code is texted to a user, with the code replacing a password. The Save feature will let users save content on websites with a built-in Facebook Save button to their Facebook feeds for accessing it later.

Article Link: Facebook Introduces Chatbots for Messenger, Pushes Further Into Live Video

 

[Crosscreek]

I try avoiding FB at all costs. They seem to pry there way into everything. Of all the social apps I trust them the least.

 

[LordQ]

Ugh, seeing the WhatsApp logo there makes me want to delete it right away.

 

[Noble Actual]

Yahoo be seeing all this and be like

 

[TMRJIJ]

Nope. Not downloading Facebook.

 

[puma1552]

What does this have to do with Apple? It isn't even a competitor's product, FFS.

Anyway who cares, I refuse to download a separate app just for messaging, what a stupid idea.

 

[DavidLeblond]

Drones, satellites, and lasers? I totally didn't mean to "like" that status! Don't kill me!

EDIT: Looking at it further, the top 2 categories is basically SkyNet. I don't know why they have VR on there, we'll all be dead by the time the Facebook drones turn on us.

 

[Ron Johnson]

Why don't they fix their Facebook app first.

 

[thermodynamic]

Yahoo be seeing all this and be like

For all we know the CEO of Yahoo (who is also on other companies' boards of directors) is probably too busy with those companies to care about Yahoo?

And are you trying to say Yahoo is sad because its social engineers didn't think of the feature for their programmers to implement first?

 

[AbSoluTc]

Facebook Systems. Facebook is the one that's going to screw us all.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Welcome back, 1996 IRC technology!

 

[patseguin]

If you are a 12 year old girl and like drama, use Facebook.

 

[Liamda1y]

What does this have to do with Apple? It isn't even a competitor's product, FFS.

Anyway who cares, I refuse to download a separate app just for messaging, what a stupid idea.

because its one of the most popular apps on the app store globally which is why it has everything to do with Apple.

 

[WhatUp?]

I think Zuckerboy missed a few.

 

[aroom]

I'm scared

 

[Fzang]

Okay, I give up.

Why does every MR member hate Facebook?

 

[ValSalva]

The words "dystopian" and "future" come to mind after reading this story.

 

[Alenore]

What does this have to do with Apple? It isn't even a competitor's product, FFS.

Anyway who cares, I refuse to download a separate app just for messaging, what a stupid idea.

I care.

 

[Rogifan]

So is everybody going to start developing bots now just because?

 

[JonneyGee]

If you are a 12 year old girl and like drama, use Facebook.

Doubtful, since Facebook's user base is mostly 25+.

If you're a 12-year-old girl and like drama, Snapchat is where it's at.

 

[PotatoLeekSoup]

If you are a 12 year old girl and like drama, use Facebook.

I just see a bunch of updates and photos about people's spawn. Blech.

 

[RickInHouston]

Okay, I give up.

Why does every MR member hate Facebook?

Because they didn't think of it first.

Therefore, it's intrusive, memory hog, unsecure and you sell you soul for starting an account. You become the product. Uh, sorry for that last one, that's for Google.

 

[milo]

I try avoiding FB at all costs. They seem to pry there way into everything. Of all the social apps I trust them the least.

For me it's fine for basic social stuff, but there's no way in hell I'd give them my credit card number.

 

[cymerc]

Okay, I give up.

Why does every MR member hate Facebook?

Apple values it's customer's privacy, Facebook does not.

Pretty easy to see the logic here.

 

[the8thark]

The whole idea of facebook was to connect with your friends. Does Mark Zuckerberg feel we don't have enough friends anymore that we need chatbots to chat too. This contradicts the original premise he invented facebook for in the first place.