Conversational chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude by Anthropic) are AI-based programs designed to hold conversations with users. They use large language models (LLMs), trained on massive datasets of text, to generate fluent and logical responses. Modern bots are becoming increasingly sophisticated – as Bankier notes, they can recognize a user’s tone and intent, and even mimic someone’s style of writing. Thanks to this, chatbots can respond naturally to questions and commands – from giving weather updates to offering advice or analysis.

However, chatbots also have serious limitations. They don’t experience emotions or hold personal opinions, so their responses tend to be neutral and impersonal. Often they give overly precise, formulaic answers – correct, but lacking spontaneity or humor. Their response timing is also unnatural: they reply instantly (or “freeze” when faced with a tricky question). Bots usually follow learned scenarios – if asked something outside their training (e.g., local weather or breaking news), they may give vague answers or none at all. In short, despite advances in generative AI, chatbots lack human flexibility – something you can often spot by observing their style and behavior.

How to tell a bot from a human?

Bots often reveal themselves through their communication style. Common signs include:

Lack of emotion: A chatbot never changes tone or expresses real feelings – it always responds neutrally. A real person might joke or share impressions, while a bot replies mechanically.

Formulaic language: Bots rely on templates and repetitive phrasing. They avoid long, free-flowing answers, and often sound overly “perfect” or artificial. Phrases like “I’m sorry” or “I’m not sure” are frequent when asked difficult questions.

Instant replies: Unlike humans who type in real time, bots usually generate and send the entire response at once. As Bitdefender points out, the “typing…” indicator may not match the length of the response. If you get long answers almost instantly, you may be chatting with a program.

Consistency and rigidity: Humans sometimes change topics unexpectedly, get off track, or ask absurd questions. Bots tend to stick to logical patterns. If responses feel too consistent and predictable, that’s another giveaway.

**Example tests for spotting a bot ** To verify whether you’re chatting with AI, you can try a few simple tricks:

Local news/weather: Ask about current events in your city or today’s weather. A human (or even a voice assistant) can usually answer, but most text-based chatbots will admit they lack real-time data.

Unusual/abstract questions: Try something odd like “Tell me a joke about a robot on vacation” or “What color is a sound?” As Dzień Dobry TVN suggests, abstract questions can trip up bots. They may answer vaguely or avoid the absurdity, while a human reacts more playfully.

Emotional prompts: Say “I’m feeling sad today – what do you think?” A human will likely offer comfort or empathy, while a bot stays neutral, with disclaimers like “As an AI, I don’t have feelings.”

Repetition/paraphrasing: Ask the same question in different ways. Humans usually keep their answers consistent, but bots may give mechanical or varied responses, revealing a lack of flexibility.

Transparency and ethics in communication

In practice, companies increasingly inform customers when they’re interacting with a chatbot. Transparency builds trust – as Bankier notes, “we have the right to know whether we’re talking to a machine.” On business websites, it’s now standard to label automated chat systems clearly. This way, users don’t feel misled and know what to expect. It’s also important to remember that even the most advanced chatbots make mistakes or refuse to answer sometimes. That’s why it’s best to remain cautious and aware that the “person” behind the message might actually be a program.

In conclusion: While modern chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude can generate smooth and intelligent responses, they usually sound too logical, emotionless, and formulaic. To test it, try asking unusual or emotional questions, watch their style and speed of reply. If the responses are always similar, arrive very quickly, and lack personal opinions – you’re probably chatting with a bot.