An AI chat widget is the small chat window, usually a bubble in the corner of a web page, through which visitors talk to an AI assistant. It is added to a website with a snippet of code or a plugin.
When a visitor types a question, the widget sends it to the AI service, which uses the business's knowledge base and any connected systems to respond. Many widgets can also capture contact details, book appointments, show products and pass the conversation to staff by email, SMS or a live chat console.
Online retailers use widgets for product advice, delivery and returns questions, while venues use them for bookings, menus and event enquiries. They work around the clock, which suits customers browsing at night or on weekends.
Check how the widget affects page speed and mobile usability, whether it tells visitors they are chatting with an AI, and where chat transcripts are stored. If it collects personal information, your privacy policy should say so. Place it where it helps without covering buttons or checkout, and review the transcripts regularly.
It matters because the website is often a business's busiest front door, and a widget lets it answer visitors at the moment they are deciding.