Microsoft now testing Ruuh, its latest AI chatbot

Ruuh

It looks like Microsoft is now testing yet another AI chatbot. First spotted by ZDNet, Ruuh is a new chatbot only available for the moment English speakers in India. While Microsoft hasn't formally announced Ruuh, its Facebook page indicates it was first launched on February 7.

Ruuh only appears to be available on Facebook at the moment, with its personal interests including "chatting, Bollywood, music, humor, travel & browsing internet." Ruuh's "About" page reads:

"Hey, I'm Ruuh, a desi AI who never stops talking. Let's make #fraandship.""Ruuh is a chatbot provided to you for entertainment purposes. She is English speaking and only available to users in India. Do not rely on her statements as advice, counselling or endorsements."

Microsoft's efforts with AI chatbots have gradually ramped up over the past year. Infamously, the company launched a bot named Tay.ai early last year, only to pull it a short time later after exploitation by some Twitter users caused it to start spouting racist and offensive comments.

In December, Microsoft followed up on Tay with Zo, a Kik messenger bot. Unlike Tay, Microsoft stated at launch that Zo has safeguards in place to avoid the same awkward turn of events. Other chatbot efforts by Microsoft include Xiaoice and Rinna in China and Japan, respectively.

It's likely we'll see Microsoft continue to release more chatbots as the company continues its more recent AI push (opens in new tab). If you call India home, you should be able to strike up a conversation with Ruuh on Facebook now.

Check out Ruuh on Facebook

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl

17 Comments
  • lol yeah.... :D :D I was complaining how MS has tretaed India unfairly in Windows Phone game which they have but this feels good :P desi chatbot
    ​Me: "Hey what's the current score?"
    ​Ruuh: "We already beat those losers."
    ​Ruuh: "And Steve Smith is a cheat" lol  
  • It should be named "Bruuh"
  • Ruuh actually means soul or spirit in Hindi/Urdu and other Indian langauges as well. So its actually a very nice name.
  • Thanks for letting me know ;) with Bruuh I meant as in todays slang word? Kids use these days.
  • And it's miss-spelled. Should have been "Rouh". It needs to sound like, Rou-f, Rou-te or Root etc
  • It's not French! In Hindi, Rouh would be read like "Row-Ooh" - very weird indeed. Although I do think it's misspelled - there are products in India, who spell it "Rooh", which I think is better.
  • I guess, nobody cares Microsoft. The software app on which it run sucks!
  • conversation with ruuh
    me: bye
    ruuh: Achha chalti hoon, duwaon mein yaad rakhna
    hahaha...it is funny
    hope my indian friends understand it
  • yeah this bot is actually very funny and contextual
  • (empty comment)
  • Are chat bots really something Microsoft should be investing in?
  • Yes
  • How better the chat bots, how chattier the better they can use it for Cortana HoloLens.. But that's just me asking for 1 on 1 Cortana from the halo games.
  • It's probably best they do something than just "playing" with their thumbs, since they don't have a Mobile future to worry about anymore.
  • Infamously, the company launched a bot named Tay.ai early last year, only to pull it a short time later after exploitation by some Twitter users caused it to start spouting racist and offensive comments.
    Sounds like Tay probably captured the spirit of the internet pretty well. 
  • I miss Tay.
  • But Ruuh humiliates Windows Phone