I agree with you, the wording used in the media, and the hype, help create the illusion of the AI to be an entity not a machine. Everyone describes them as 'thinking machines' but they are not thinking in the way humans do, they follow a complex program we have described as thinking which in my opinion is misleading people to believe they are actually thinking. but It Is very sophisticated programs that produce an AI.

My basic understanding is these chatbots pick up on the users topic of conversation to reply, they recognise words and context to be able to engage in conversation with a user, an AI is simply following along in a conversation taking the lead from the user. These systems use complex 'neural networks' in their programming, no longer just coding, computer science has become a very complex science in the past 50+ years, I certainly could not explain how they work, I would need to go back to college :-).

These chatbots do need safeguards to prevent certain lines of conversation which could lead to bad outcomes for the user. It is only in recent years the UK government has taken strong action on these internet sites that explain ways to commit suicide, after many child suicides. I don't know of any UK government action taken against chatbots, hopefully they have taken some to make them safer.

that's the crux of it.. the wording is that the "thinking machines" are thinking of their own volition.. but is it misleading us to believe it's simply a complex program? or is it actually programmed to think on it's own? I believe the latter is more factual than simply a complex program.. because if we think about it.. the coder is actually programming it to think for itself and although it's supposed to respond without prejudice, it's unknowingly (or possibly knowingly?) creating conversations or situations that are forcing the user to alter their own mindset..

having been offered a position to 'train' AI some time ago.. after looking into the requirements that needed to be met within that training, backing away very quickly seemed the smartest move.. it was not something anyone shud want to be party to.. just sayin..