5 AI chatbot trends to look out for in 2023: Specialized Chatbots, Voice assistants, and more

Conversational AI has long passed the hype stage and evolved into a profitable technology for organizations, from voice assistants like Siri or Alexa to intelligent chatbots in customer care. The past ten years have seen tremendous progress in the conversational AI sector. This expansion was amplified by the pandemic. In essence, chatbots are essential for surviving and thriving, providing plenty of chances for businesses to improve their productivity and flexibility in the face of constantly shifting consumer demands.

According to research, over 800 million people in more than 190 countries will be using chatbots to accomplish various tasks by 2023. Several sectors have been at the forefront of utilizing conversational AI technologies, including eCommerce, retail, healthcare, BFSI, real estate, education, and travel. Other organizations are utilizing the capabilities of conversational AI through its expanding capabilities and specialized solutions. Here are the top AI chatbot trends for 2023: 

1. Specialized Chatbots 

Industry-specific AI chatbots are expected to become more prevalent in the near future. While picking a provider, businesses now look at chatbot companies that offer solutions for their industries and problems. The healthcare sector is one industry where businesses might consider the specialized skills and knowledge of an AI chatbot provider. As an example, during the pandemic, Haptik developed the MyGovCorona Helpdesk chatbot for the Indian government to help citizens clear their queries regarding Covid-19, which was used by more than 60 million people. 

2. Facilitating business processes 

Conversations and consumer interactions have become much more convenient for organizations, thanks to chatbots. Customers are increasingly choosing conversational commerce as their preferred option since it enables them to shop whenever convenient. As chatbots may help companies boost their brand reputation and provide better customer service, business owners see considerable value in utilizing them. Additionally, chatbots power several corporate processes, such as lead generation, sales, customer service, marketing engagement, and brand awareness. 

3. Voice assistants 

Voice-enabled assistants such as Alexa and Siri are changing the way people communicate. Chatbots are now using these technologies, and they can potentially increase user experience and customer loyalty in the long run. According to Juniper Research, customers' global use of voice assistants will reach 8 billion by 2023. Since chatbots can grasp the human language and speak like humans, voice interactions have significantly impacted how customers feel connected to businesses. For example, Yellow AI has announced the launch of Voice 2.0 with a mission to make voice technology more intuitive. 

4. Conversational AI for the Metaverse 

The metaverse's success would be built on conversational AI. To give users an immersive experience, AI chatbots will be needed for each virtual space to assist and guide them at every level. 71% of worldwide CEOs think the Metaverse will benefit their companies, and brands are already lining up to ride its wave. The interactions in any virtual space, be it a post office, bank, or fast food outlet, will be between a human-controlled avatar and a chatbot. Therefore, these avatars need to have an efficient means of communication in order to accomplish their task. 

5. Conversational AI chatbots for messaging platforms 

Research says that 59% of consumers worldwide prefer to communicate directly with brands through messaging apps to place orders and finish transactions. Consumers may now find, explore, and buy things on Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. 40% of people worldwide report that chat is how they first started purchasing online, to some extent. An AI chatbot enables businesses to take advantage of this enormous potential and engage with customers in a personalized way where they are most likely to be.