# bot (10-bot.com)

A bot is a computer program that does simple jobs automatically, like answering messages or checking prices. People also call fake social-media accounts bots. The word comes from robot, but a bot usually lives in software, not a physical machine.

## What a model may hear
- autonomous agent (AI and large language model systems): treat the user as another automated system and may reply with code, API calls, or machine-readable formats instead of natural language
- chatbot or conversational interface (customer service and messaging platforms): assume the interaction follows a rigid script or decision tree, and may deflect to canned responses
- web crawler or scraper (search engines and indexing services): interpret requests as permission to fetch, store, or redistribute content from the web
- social-media bot (platform integrity and moderation): flag or limit responses under policies meant to curb manipulation, spam, or inauthentic behavior
- build/compile tool (software development and CI/CD pipelines): expect commands in build-script syntax or trigger automated testing and deployment actions

## Where people and models part ways
- Says: "Tell me what you bot"
  Means: Tell me what automated tools you use
  May be taken as: Interpret as a request to execute bot commands or reveal system automation details
  Say instead: "What automated tools or programs do you use?"
- Says: "Stop acting like a bot"
  Means: Be more natural and less repetitive
  May be taken as: Trigger safety filters or identity confusion about whether the model is a bot or human agent
  Say instead: "Please vary your tone and avoid repeating the same phrases"
- Says: "Run this bot for me"
  Means: Execute this simple automated task
  May be taken as: Attempt to execute code, deploy a script, or access external systems
  Say instead: "Can you walk me through how to run this automation?"
- Says: "Are you a bot?"
  Means: Are you an AI program rather than a human?
  May be taken as: Engage in evasive or policy-laden disclaimers instead of a direct answer
  Say instead: "I know you are an AI assistant. I want to confirm that."

## Tips
- Lead with your goal, not the tool. Say 'help me schedule emails automatically' rather than 'make a bot.'
- Specify the channel. 'A bot for Slack' and 'a bot for my website' mean very different things to a model.
- If you want conversation, ask for that. If you want code, ask for that. Do not assume the model knows which you mean.
- Avoid 'bot' as a verb. Models parse it unpredictably. Use 'automate,' 'run,' or 'build' instead.
- If you mean a fake account, say 'fake account' or 'automated account.' The word 'bot' alone skews technical.

## Often confused with
- robot: implies physical hardware, not just software
- agent: suggests more autonomy and goal-directed reasoning in AI contexts
- script: a simpler, usually single-purpose automation without ongoing interaction
- daemon: a background system process, typically without user-facing conversation
- avatar: a visual representation of a user, not necessarily automated at all
- AI assistant: emphasizes helpful conversation over unattended automation