Microsoft’s NLWeb Project Expands Chatbots on Webpages
▼ Summary
– Microsoft launched NLWeb, an open project to simplify building AI-powered chatbots on websites with minimal code and custom data.
– NLWeb allows websites to add conversational interfaces, like chatbots for retail or cooking recommendations, using their preferred AI model.
– Websites using NLWeb can opt to make their content discoverable via AI platforms supporting Anthropic’s MCP standard.
– Microsoft compares NLWeb’s potential impact to HTML, enabling rich, semantic user interactions with web content.
– NLWeb may originate from OpenAI’s earlier efforts, which faced delays but now appears ready for broader use in a revised form.
Microsoft’s new NLWeb initiative is transforming how websites integrate AI chatbots, offering businesses a streamlined way to add conversational interfaces with minimal coding. The open project, unveiled at Build 2025, enables developers to embed interactive chatbots using just a few lines of code, customized AI models, and proprietary data. Retailers could deploy these bots to recommend travel outfits, while food platforms might use them to suggest recipe pairings—demonstrating NLWeb’s versatility across industries.
A standout feature is NLWeb’s compatibility with MCP (Model-Connection Protocol), Anthropic’s framework for linking AI models to data sources. This allows participating websites to make their content accessible to AI platforms that support the standard, enhancing discoverability. Microsoft likens NLWeb’s potential impact to HTML’s role in shaping the early web, calling it a foundational tool for the “agentic web” where users engage with content through natural dialogue.
Though Microsoft hasn’t confirmed its origins, NLWeb may stem from collaborative efforts with OpenAI, which previously tested similar technology with partners like Condé Nast and Redfin. OpenAI initially envisioned the project as a way to embed ChatGPT-like interactions directly on brand websites, but technical challenges caused delays. Now, under Microsoft’s stewardship, the refined NLWeb appears poised for broader adoption—marking a significant leap in making AI-driven conversations a standard web feature.
By simplifying integration and prioritizing interoperability, NLWeb could accelerate the shift toward more dynamic, user-friendly web experiences. Whether for e-commerce, content discovery, or customer support, businesses gain a powerful toolkit to meet users where they are—through seamless, intelligent dialogue.
(Source: TechCrunch)
