Chatbots will be added to more web pages through Microsoft’s NLWeb project

In a move aimed at simplifying the creation of AI-driven chatbots for websites, Microsoft has unveiled a new open initiative known as NLWeb. With the intention of allowing developers to incorporate conversational interfaces, such a chat box with a submit button, directly onto their online platforms with just a few lines of code, NLWeb was introduced at the Build 2025 conference. This lightweight integration can be paired with the AI model of the developer’s choice, along with custom data relevant to their business or service.

The flexibility of NLWeb allows a wide variety of industries to take advantage of the technology. For example, an online fashion retailer could utilize NLWeb to build a virtual assistant that recommends outfits based on travel destinations or events. Similarly, a culinary website might implement a chatbot that suggests complementary recipes or wine pairings based on user input.

Additionally, websites built with NLWeb have the option to enable discoverability by AI systems that are compatible with MCP – a protocol developed by Anthropic that serves as a bridge between AI models and the data infrastructure powering websites and apps. This enables deeper semantic interaction and data-driven responses.

Microsoft likened NLWeb to a foundational web standard, stating in press material provided to TechCrunch that NLWeb “can play a similar role to HTML for the agentic web,” enabling a more organic and significant user-digital content interaction.

Although Microsoft hasn’t confirmed the backstory, it’s possible that NLWeb has its roots in technology developed by OpenAI, a key Microsoft partner. According to a report by The Information in late 2024, OpenAI had been collaborating with companies such as Condé Nast, Redfin, Priceline, and Eventbrite on early prototypes of a similar system that would allow ChatGPT-style interactions on commercial websites. While that original version faced delays due to technical issues, the latest iteration under Microsoft’s stewardship now appears to be ready for broader deployment – possibly reimagined from OpenAI’s initial vision.