Facebook's next frontier: chatbots

By Yasmeen Abutaleb SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc said on Tuesday it has opened up its Messenger app to developers to create "chatbots," hoping that by simulating one-on-one conversations between users and companies it will expand its reach in customer service and enterprise transactions. Chatbots are automated programs that help users communicate with businesses and carry out tasks such as online purchases. While chatbots have existed in some form for years, they have recently become a