ChatBot Application using AI
By: Sajeli Butala
Tags: Chat Bot

In today’s era of technology Chatbots are now replacing some of the tasks that are traditionally performed by a human. With the use of Artificial Intelligence, the performance of chatbots is improving. A chat-bot is an interaction agent where a computer software is used to simulate an intelligent conversation. It is in the format of taking inputs in form of text or digits. Chatbots can “chat” nowadays as like human being. Experience indicates that the conversation between chatbot and computer are mostly short but also indicates that it is accessible anywhere at any time. In this article, we will have a method for developing an android application chatbot which will interact with user using text.

Since last few years, Chatbots are playing a prominent role as human-computer interaction. Chatbots consist of three major components: the user interface, an interpreter and a database. Laven defines Chatbot as a program that attempts to simulate typed conversation, with the aim of at least temporarily fooling the human into thinking they were talking to another person. Actually, chatbot is a conversational agent that interacts with users for a given topic using the natural language. Till date many chatbots have been deployed on the internet for the purpose of education, customer service site, guidance, entertainment, etc. The famous existing chatbots are ALICE, Siri and Ok Google.

The AI based chatbots are famous because they are light weight, easy to configure as well as at low cost. In our article, we are going to have an application for college purpose which will provide all the information related to college and student queries.

Firstly the bot analyzes user triggered message to the chatbot program, then according it matches reply from the MySQL database, the answer is formulated and send back to the user. Students must select the category listed in a drop down fashion having various options such as admission, faculty details, syllabus, exams etc. Hence, this will avoid student’s direct enquiry to college. If any new candidate enquirers for admission and the details about any department of the college this bot will help to get the answer of query of the candidate. The chatbots that are currently been live in market uses text, voice and emotion intelligence as the input. In this paper, we have used the text as user input.

BACK TO BASICS: THE MEANING OF INTELLIGENCE

If the present proposes need to be improved, we have to provide some options. For the same, we restart from the basics. There is always need to rethink about the fundamental abilities on which intelligence works.

a) Arithmetic:

The power to compute is the fundamental of intelligence. It includes arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, division and so on. Today’s machines perform well on this part. They can help carry out even complex calculations within no time.

b) Comparison, Logic and Reasoning:

The scope of AI becomes wider when a system has the ability to apply logic and make comparisons. Current generation computers can perform logical operations nicely with the principles of Boolean algebra.

c) Learning, Heuristics and Memory:

The major entities of AI will be a tool to recollect past incidents, learn new things and gain experience. Heuristics implementation in newer software has given the ability for machines to grow, learn and gain experience.

d) Senses:

It helps to know the environment around us. We humans are lucky enough to have really efficient and effective set of senses. Some animals like dogs are said to have even greater abilities to sense. A working machine with correctly installed equipment’s to sense the surroundings will prove to be a great body for its intelligent brain. But for example, even a caterpillar can outstand machines in the ability to know about their nearby environment.

e) Perception:

The output of senses is then processed here. This leads to creativity along with intelligence. We can call a machine with a perception as a distant dream of AI.

f) Consciousness:

It is a most difficult content to be detailed on. Most difficult task to implement in a machine. Take for an example — How can a physical system come to notice the presence of itself in the world? This question is really very difficult to answer for. Everyone will have their own views.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE / MACHINE INTELLIGENCE

This article intends to offer an overview regarding Artificial Intelligence application such as chatbot.

a) Partially Intelligent Systems:

Any machine, system or program having some of the above listed essentials of intelligence is a Partially Intelligent System. For example, chatbots exhibit some of above listed characteristics, namely Comparison, Logic & Reasoning and Learning, Heuristics & Memory. If there is an option for additional module, they may display some more qualities also, like ability to perform arithmetic operations. Therefore, chatbots are Partially Intelligent Systems.

b) Completely Intelligent Systems:

Any machine, structure or database enlightening all of the mentioned basics of intelligence completely will be considered a Completely Intelligent System. Such a unit will represent the true power of AI.

c) Performance Factor:

The Performance Factor of a system is a degree offered for representing the capability of an intelligent system in terms of the vital qualities of intelligence it holds.

The major features of the chat bot are:

· College related information as like mission, vision can be answered.

· College admission related queries could be answered through it.

· College fee structure will be displayed.

· Details on books available in library will be checked out.

· Students can view their examination details as like timetable of practical and theory.

· Moreover, students will be able to view the syllabus contents and also the lecture wise time-table.

· Viewing user profiles and retrieves attendance and grade/ pointers.

· College students can get information about examinations to be held.

The objectives of this application are:

· To analyze users queries and understand users message.

· To provide an answer to the query of the user very effectively.

· To save the time of the user since s/he does not have to personally go to the college for inquiry.

· This system will help the student to be updated about the college activities.

It is really impossible to get all the required data on a single interface without the complications of going through multiple forms and windows. The present college chatbot intends to remove this difficulty by providing a common and user-friendly interface to solve basic queries of college students. The purpose of a chatbot system is to pretend a human conversation. The students can freely ask queries to bot any time. The chatbot provides quick and effective search for answers to the queries. The database holds information about questions, answers, keywords, and logs. We have also developed an interface which will have two parts, one for users and the other for the administrator.