BuzzBot

BuzzFeed has created a Facebook Messenger bot that will act as a reporter covering the Republican National Convention. Instead of just sending out notifications about stories, like every other news bot, the BuzzBot will allow people to submit tips and opinions to it that will then be turned into stories and redistributed through both BuzzFeed and the BuzzBot.

Instead of collecting information on their website or in a standalone app, BuzzFeed is using its chatbot in an innovative way to act as a lightweight information gatherer. I expect we will see more bots replicate this functionality in the future.