AI glossary · Chatbots and assistants
AI assistant
An AI assistant is an AI tool that helps you get things done, such as answering questions, writing, planning or managing tasks, usually through chat or voice.
Also called virtual assistant, digital assistant
In more detail
The term covers general chat apps like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude, assistants built into other products such as Microsoft Copilot, and voice assistants like Siri and Alexa.
Assistants increasingly take actions as well as answer, like booking a meeting or editing a file. When they work through multi-step tasks on their own, they are called AI agents.
Related terms
ChatbotA chatbot is a program you talk to in text or voice that replies like a person would. Modern AI chatbots like ChatGPT are powered by large language models.AI agentAn AI agent is an AI system that works toward a goal on its own, planning steps, using tools like search or apps, and checking its progress along the way.Voice assistantA voice assistant is an AI assistant you control by speaking, such as Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant, that answers questions and controls devices.AI memoryAI memory is a feature that lets an assistant remember details about you across conversations, such as your name, preferences or ongoing projects.
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