What is the role of an 'intent' in a chatbot?

An 'intent' in a chatbot context serves as a crucial element that helps the bot understand what the user is trying to achieve with their input. It encapsulates the purpose or goal behind the user's message, allowing the chatbot to provide appropriate responses or follow-up actions. For example, if a user types "I want to book a flight," the intent here would be to initiate a flight booking process. By identifying this intent, the chatbot can then guide the user towards the next steps in booking their flight.

Understanding intents is essential because it allows chatbots to interpret user queries accurately and respond with relevant information or actions, thereby enhancing the user experience. In essence, intents serve as the bridge between user communication and the chatbot's capability to perform tasks or provide information based on that communication.