You used three chatbots before lunch today without realizing it. One helped you check your bank balance. Another tracked your delivery. A third answered a question about a product you're thinking of buying. Chatbots are everywhere—so embedded in everyday life that we've stopped noticing them.
The irony? Many people still think chatbots are futuristic, experimental technology. The truth is simpler: they're already solving real problems for millions of people every single day. Here are 10 you've probably interacted with, where they actually shine, and why companies keep building them.
1. Banking Chatbots: Erica by Bank of America
Open the Bank of America app and look for "Erica"—a digital assistant available 24/7. Ask "What did I spend on groceries last month?" or "Move $500 to savings." Erica handles it. She's not just answering questions; she's making personalized financial recommendations based on your spending patterns.
Why it works: Customers get instant answers at 2 AM without calling a bank. Bank of America processes 400,000 daily Erica interactions—reducing call center volume by millions annually (Bank of America, 2024).
2. Voice Assistant Chatbots: Siri and Alexa
Your phone or speaker responds to "Play my workout playlist" or "What's the weather?" without you typing anything. These voice-activated chatbots have become so natural that most people forget they're AI.
Why it works: Hands-free convenience. By 2025, over 140 million smart speakers operate in US homes alone, with Alexa and Google Assistant handling billions of requests monthly (Statista, 2025).
3. Retail Chatbots: Sephora’s Virtual Makeup Assistant
Message Sephora on Facebook or Instagram and ask "What foundation matches my skin tone?" or "Book me a makeover appointment." The chatbot recommends products and books your in-store visit in real-time.
Why it works: Personalized shopping without pushy salespeople. Sephora captures customers at peak engagement—scrolling social media, already thinking about shopping (Voiceflow, 2025).
4. Food Delivery Chatbots: Domino’s Pizza Bot
Order pizza by texting Domino's, tweeting at them, or using their app. The chatbot remembers your favorite order, tracks your delivery in real-time, and even accepts voice commands.
Why it works: Removes friction from repeat ordering. Domino's 30% of online orders come through chatbots, saving customers time and saving Domino's phone-staffing costs (Domino's Investor Report, 2024).
5. AI Chatbot Example: ChatGPT for Everyday Use
Ask it to write an email, explain quantum physics, debug code, or brainstorm business ideas. ChatGPT has become the go-to first stop for millions of people seeking quick answers or creative input.
Why it works: Versatility. ChatGPT has 100M+ weekly active users because it's genuinely useful across dozens of use cases (OpenAI, 2025).
6. Transportation Chatbots: Uber Ride Booking Assistant
Message Uber on Facebook Messenger "I need a ride to the airport" and book without opening the app. The chatbot handles location verification and payment.
Why it works: One less app to manage. Reduces friction for users who live in messaging apps anyway (Uber, 2024).
7. E-Commerce Chatbots: H&M’s Fashion Assistant
Browse H&M's website or app and ask "What matches these jeans?" The chatbot recommends outfits based on current inventory and your style preferences.
Why it works: Reduces decision paralysis. Customers hesitate on clothing purchases—personalized recommendations move them from browsing to buying (H&M Digital Strategy, 2024).
8. Healthcare Chatbots: Healthily’s AI Symptom Checker
Wondering if your sore throat is serious? Chat with Healthily (available on web, iOS, Android). Input your symptoms and the chatbot provides guidance, severity assessment, and whether you should see a doctor.
Why it works: 24/7 health reassurance without waiting for a call center. Healthily answers 10M+ queries monthly across 150+ countries (Healthily Annual Report, 2025).
9. Enterprise Chatbots: AWS Support Bot Example
AWS customers use chatbots to troubleshoot infrastructure issues, retrieve documentation, and track support tickets—all without calling support.
Why it works: Enterprise customers expect instant support 24/7. AWS bots handle 60-70% of support requests automatically (AWS case study, 2024).
10. Customer Service Bots Across E-Commerce (Amazon, Walmart, Target)
Almost every major retailer now has a chatbot that answers "Where's my order?" "Can I return this?" or "What's your return policy?" without a human involved.
Why it works: These are repetitive questions asked millions of times daily. Automating them saves companies massive support costs while customers get instant answers (E-Commerce Research, 2025).
Why AI Chatbots Became Invisible Yet Essential
Here's the thing: the best chatbots have become so natural that users forget they're talking to software. They just work. Customers get answers. Companies save money. Problems get solved faster.
The pattern: Each of these examples solves a specific, repetitive problem. Bank of America's Erica doesn't try to be your financial advisor—she answers account questions. Sephora's bot doesn't replace human consultants—it schedules appointments and recommends products. ChatGPT doesn't pretend to be human—it's useful exactly because it's transparent about what it is.
Chatbots win when they know their lane.
The Bigger Picture: How AI Chatbots Are Changing Daily Life
The businesses using chatbots effectively aren't bragging about AI. They're solving customer problems. 67% of global consumers interact with chatbots at least once per week (Statista, 2025). That number will only grow.
For you as a consumer, this is good news—instant answers, 24/7 availability, fewer frustrating phone holds. For businesses, it's an opportunity—cheaper support, faster service, happier customers.
The chatbots you use every day aren't flashy or complicated. They just work quietly in the background, solving the problems that annoyed you five years ago.
Talk to us about building your first AI chatbot use case.