Definition of the word bot

The term "bot" originated in the 1960s in the context of Games, Engineering, and Early Computing. It was first used as an abbreviation for "robot" in the 1960s in Canadian and American English. In the early 1960s, the term "bot" was used in the context of early computer games, such as the 1962 game "OXO," which was played against a computer opponent. The word "bot" was short for "robber," a type of artificial opponent in the game. In the 1980s, the term "bot" gained popularity in the context of online games, such as text-based Multi-User Dungeons (MUDs). These online games featured artificially intelligent characters, which were often referred to as "bots." The term "bot" has since become a widely-used term to describe software programs that perform automated tasks, such as web crawlers, chatbots, and virtual assistants.