Instant messaging was once a communication channel reserved exclusively for friends and family. But with brands like ASOS offering customer service via Facebook Messenger and Clarks advertising on WhatsApp, it makes sense that you can now also receive news via chat on the Quartz app.

The number of people using messaging apps is set to hit two billion by 2018, so it’s no wonder brands want to get in on the action. Major tech players are touting chatbots as the next big thing, but can they really revolutionise online interactions, or are they just part of an industry-driven pipe dream?

From SmarterChild through to Siri, automated chatbots have been around for almost as long as the internet itself. And now – despite the presence of more advanced, flashy apps – their popularity is on the increase once again. But what’s the cause of the chatbot comeback?

The rise of messaging apps has changed how people want to communicate with brands, and while some companies are taking to social networks and chatbots, their offerings leave much to be desired. Enter Hero, an app that wants to make messaging brands as easy as chatting with friends.