05.25.2016
API.AI, a conversational user experience platform for apps, devices and services, today announced the integration of its natural language understanding (NLU) platform with Twilio Programmable SMS. With the immediate availability of this integration, developers now have the capability to quickly create powerful, customizable bots that can interact with users as naturally as if they were speaking with another person. API.AI made the announcement at SIGNAL, the developer conference for communications presented by Twilio. API.AI is also sponsoring and exhibiting at the event, which takes place May 24-25 at Pier 27 in San Francisco.
API.AI’s new integration with Twilio SMS has the potential to enable the millions of SMS users worldwide – and the more than a million developers who are utilizing Twilio to incorporate communications into their applications – with the full capabilities and assistance of API.AI’s NLU technology tools. Developers using API.AI also benefit from the simple portability of the bots they create. A bot developed for implementation on any API.AI supported platform – such as Slack, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Kik, etc. – can now immediately gain exposure to millions of new users via Twilio Programmable SMS. In the same way, bots empowered by the API.AI agent can easily port to other supported platforms, allowing businesses to seamlessly expand their reach to new audiences by virtue of their automated conversational bots. Twilio Programmable SMS also supports businesses by equipping them with toll-free numbers for calls and texts.
“The ability to help developers build effortlessly is at the heart of Twilio’s appeal,” said Patrick Malatack, VP of Product Management at Twilio. “API.AI shares that vision and has integrated its natural language understanding capabilities with Twilio Programmable SMS. We look forward to seeing what developers will produce when empowered by this platform.”
“SMS is an increasingly critical channel for brand-customer interaction, making Twilio’s ability to offer a robust and cloud communication via platform an essential value to just about any business,” said Ilya Gelfenbeyn, API.AI co-founder and CEO. “Now, developers can bring the benefits of the API.AI platform straight to Twilio Programmable SMS. We’re excited for businesses to explore the benefits of introducing conversational experiences to their customers via Twilio.”
The conversational user experiences that developers are able to create using API.AI give businesses a compelling and automatic communications vehicle for demonstrating responsiveness and understanding to their customers. API.AI-enabled bots are capable of comprehending and interacting with customers in everyday language, complete with context awareness, and seamless switching of conversation topics. API.AI also makes it simple for developers to get started, making it possible to create an agent in minutes with no coding required. API.AI also features a comprehensive selection of pre-built knowledge packages to jumpstart developer efforts. The platform features machine learning, which supports developers through automatic improvements to bots as they experience and continually learn from interactions with users.
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