Chatbots have transformed over the years, evolving from being annoying and unhelpful to becoming a low-cost way to scale support, accelerate response times, and improve customer experiences. They can automate trivial questions, reduce costs, scale support, assist customers 24/7, respond quickly, collect customer insights, onboard new customers, drive sales, qualify leads, personalize the user experience, help out proactively, and build their brand. However, there are also challenges and risks associated with chatbots, including unhelpful support, lack of empathy, no personality, and setup and maintenance issues. Despite these downsides, chatbots have undeniable benefits that make them well worth the risk for businesses looking to improve customer interactions and experiences.