Pandorabots - Detailed Review

Productivity Tools

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Pandorabots - Detailed Review Contents
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    Pandorabots - Product Overview



    Pandorabots Overview

    Pandorabots is an open-source platform that enables users to develop and publish AI-powered chatbots across various platforms, including the web, mobile applications, and messaging apps like LINE, Slack, WhatsApp, and Telegram.

    Primary Function

    The primary function of Pandorabots is to allow users, particularly developers, to create and deploy chatbots using the Artificial Intelligence Markup Language (AIML) scripting language. This platform focuses on helping developers build high-quality chatbots that can engage in meaningful conversations with users.

    Target Audience

    Pandorabots is primarily targeted at developers, with over 250,000 registered developers and more than 300,000 chatbots created on the platform. It is particularly useful for those in industries such as B2C messaging, commerce, customer service, entertainment, marketing, and voice interfaces.

    Key Features



    Chat Design and Intents Tree

    Users can create chatbots using either a visual “Chat design” feature or the “Intents Tree” for a less visual approach. This flexibility helps developers in designing the conversational flow of their chatbots.

    Multilingual Proficiency

    Pandorabots supports multiple languages, making it accessible to a global audience. This feature allows users from diverse linguistic backgrounds to engage in seamless conversations.

    Speech Recognition

    The platform includes speech recognition capabilities, enabling users to interact with chatbots through both text and voice inputs.

    AIML Scripting

    The chatbot framework is based on AIML, which developers can use to create conversational bots. However, it does not include machine learning tools that are common on other platforms.

    Community and Resources

    Pandorabots has a large community of botmasters and offers resources such as video tutorials on YouTube and detailed documentation to help users get started and improve their chatbots.

    Conclusion

    Overall, Pandorabots is a versatile tool for developers looking to build and deploy sophisticated chatbots, although it may lack some of the advanced machine learning features found in other platforms.

    Pandorabots - User Interface and Experience



    User Interface



    Comprehensive UI

  • The platform offers a comprehensive UI that allows botmasters to create, deploy, and maintain their chatbots. This interface is especially useful for managing multiple bots, as it provides key global statistics such as total interactions, clients, sessions, and the average number of interactions per session (also known as Turns Per Conversation or TPC).


    • Navigation Panel

  • Upon logging in, users are presented with a navigation panel that includes a “My Bots” section, where they can view and manage their bots. Clicking on an individual bot opens a drop-down menu with various components, including statistics specific to that bot.


    • Ease of Use



    Challenges for Beginners

  • While the platform is highly customizable and powerful, it can be challenging for beginners due to its reliance on AIML (Artificial Intelligence Markup Language). Experienced AIML writers often find the features indispensable, but new users may need some time to get accustomed to the syntax and structure of AIML.


    • Support and Resources

  • The platform provides development tools, pre-built templates, and comprehensive support, which simplify the process of creating and managing chatbots. This support includes extensive documentation, an active community, and training courses for developers.


    • Customization and Integration



    Significant Customization

  • Pandorabots allows for significant customization, including the ability to visually create and design the chatbot UI. Users can customize the chat widget with CSS, add text or voice commands, and adjust various visual elements to align with their brand.


    • Integration Capabilities

  • The platform supports integration with various systems and can be deployed across multiple channels, enhancing user engagement and accessibility. It also supports multiple programming languages such as Java, Node.js, PHP, and Python.


    • Analytics and Support



    Insightful Analytics

  • The platform offers insightful analytics, including detailed statistics on interactions, clients, and sessions. Users can also integrate additional third-party analytics engines for more in-depth analysis.


    • Customer Support

  • Pandorabots provides strong customer support, with feedback from users highlighting the quality of support from Pandora engineers throughout the bot-building process.


    • Overall User Experience



    Enhanced Versatility

  • The overall user experience is enhanced by the platform’s versatility and the availability of various tools and features. For developers with some experience, the platform offers a high degree of control over the bot’s responses and behaviors, making it an excellent choice for building advanced and responsive chatbots.


    • Support for Beginners

  • Despite the initial learning curve for beginners, the comprehensive support and resources available make it easier for users to get started and manage their chatbots effectively.

    • Pandorabots Website

    Pandorabots - Key Features and Functionality



    Pandorabots Overview

    Pandorabots is a sophisticated chatbot development platform that offers a wide range of features and functionalities, making it a powerful tool in the AI-driven productivity tools category. Here are the main features and how they work:



    Multilingual Capabilities

    Pandorabots supports multiple languages, allowing chatbots to engage with users from diverse linguistic backgrounds. This feature ensures that your chatbot can communicate effectively with a global audience.



    Natural Language Processing (NLP)

    The platform uses advanced NLP algorithms and machine learning models to understand context, sentiment, and nuances in human communication. This enables the chatbot to have more meaningful and personalized interactions with users.



    Voice Recognition and Text to Speech

    Pandorabots includes voice recognition capabilities, allowing users to interact with the chatbot through voice inputs. It also supports text-to-speech functionality, enhancing the user experience by providing both text and voice communication options.



    Context Management

    The platform can manage context, enabling the chatbot to maintain the state of a conversation and respond appropriately based on previous interactions. This feature helps in creating more coherent and engaging conversations.



    Analytics Dashboard

    Pandorabots provides an analytics dashboard that offers insights into user interactions, helping you to monitor and improve the performance of your chatbot. This includes conversation logs and user feedback collection, which are crucial for optimizing the chatbot’s responses.



    API Integration and Web/Mobile SDKs

    The platform allows for seamless integration with various websites, social platforms, and apps through its API and web and mobile SDKs. This flexibility makes it easy to deploy the chatbot across multiple channels.



    Bot Training Tools and Pre-Built Templates

    Pandorabots offers bot training tools and pre-built templates to help users develop and train their chatbots efficiently. These tools simplify the process of creating and refining the chatbot’s responses.



    Customizable Avatars and User Authentication

    Users can customize the avatars of their chatbots, enhancing the visual appeal and personalization of the interactions. Additionally, the platform supports user authentication, ensuring secure and personalized interactions.



    Multi-Channel Deployment

    Pandorabots allows you to deploy your chatbot across multiple channels, including web, mobile, and other platforms. This ensures that your chatbot can reach users through their preferred communication channels.



    Real-Time Updates and Scalability

    The platform supports real-time updates, allowing you to make changes to your chatbot’s responses and functionality in real-time. It is also scalable, meaning it can handle a large volume of user interactions without compromising performance.



    Security Features

    Pandorabots includes various security features to protect user data. For example, users in sensitive industries can use pseudonymous identifiers to avoid sending confidential information to the Pandorabots servers.



    24/7 Support

    The platform offers 24/7 support, ensuring that any issues or questions you have are addressed promptly. This continuous support is crucial for maintaining the smooth operation of your chatbot.



    AIML 2.0 Support

    Pandorabots supports AIML 2.0, a standard for creating chatbot responses. This allows for advanced pattern matching and categorization, making the chatbot more intelligent and responsive.



    Live Chat and Integrations

    While the live chat feature is limited to webchat and landing pages, Pandorabots integrates with other platforms like Github and allows for custom webhooks through its API. However, it lacks automatic transfer to human agents, which can be a limitation.



    Conclusion

    In summary, Pandorabots is a comprehensive platform that leverages AI to create intelligent, interactive, and personalized chatbots. Its features are designed to enhance customer engagement, streamline operations, and provide scalable solutions for various industries.

    Pandorabots - Performance and Accuracy



    Performance

    Pandorabots are known for their efficient response times. Even with a large number of defined intents, the response time for bots hosted on Pandorabots remains consistent, typically around 300 milliseconds. This is a significant advantage, especially compared to other machine learning-based systems that can slow down with an increase in the number of intents, particularly beyond 500.



    Accuracy

    The accuracy of Pandorabots is enhanced through several mechanisms:

    • AIML Scripting: Pandorabots use Artificial Intelligence Markup Language (AIML) which allows for detailed scripting of input/output pairs. This ensures that the bot can handle a wide range of user queries accurately. The platform provides base content libraries that spare developers from reinventing common rules, which helps in maintaining high accuracy.
    • Normalization and Pre-processing: The platform performs normalization using the normal.substitution file to ensure consistent pattern matching. This helps in handling variations in user input and reducing errors due to punctuation or other inconsistencies.
    • Human Analysis and Training: For building effective FAQ chatbots or other specific use cases, human analysis is crucial. Developers need to map various user questions to the same canonical form (intent) to ensure accurate responses. This process, while requiring some manual effort, ensures high accuracy in responses.


    Limitations and Areas for Improvement

    • Infinite Recursion: One potential issue is the risk of infinite recursion if categories are not properly defined, leading to the bot getting stuck in a loop. This can be mitigated by ensuring breakpoints are set in the AIML categories.
    • Normalization Issues: Incorrect normalization can lead to unexpected bot responses. Ensuring that pattern and THAT tags are normalized according to the normal.substitution file is essential.
    • Human Effort: Building and maintaining a robust chatbot requires significant human analysis, especially for finite domains with many intents. While tools like Intents Tree and Chat Design help streamline the process, there is still a need for manual input and testing.
    • Scalability of Machine Learning Tools: While Pandorabots offer machine learning tools as part of their Professional Services, these tools are most effective with decent, usable datasets. This might be a limitation for organizations without extensive data resources.

    Overall, Pandorabots offer high performance and accuracy, particularly in environments where detailed scripting and human analysis are feasible. However, they do require careful setup and ongoing maintenance to ensure optimal functioning.

    Pandorabots Website

    Pandorabots - Pricing and Plans



    Pandorabots Pricing Plans

    Pandorabots offers a structured pricing plan to cater to various needs, from basic to advanced users. Here’s a breakdown of their pricing structure and the features associated with each plan:



    Free Plan

    • Pandorabots does offer a free plan, although it is limited in its features.
    • Users can create and deploy bots on the internal bot directory, which is accessible to other platform users.
    • This plan is restricted and primarily useful for testing and basic development.


    Developer Plan

    • There is some discrepancy in the sources regarding the pricing of the Developer plan. However, the most recent and reliable source indicates that the Developer plan is not widely mentioned, and the primary plans are the Pro and potentially an Enterprise plan.
    • An older source suggests a $19 per month Developer plan, but this may not be current.


    Pro Plan

    • The Pro plan starts at $199 per month.
    • Features include:
      • Development Sandbox
      • Unlimited Sandbox Messages
      • API Access
      • Chat Widget and Landing Page
      • 3rd Party Channels
      • 100,000 channel messages per month (with additional messages at $2.50 per 1,000 messages)
      • Live Training
      • Email, Chat, and Phone Support


    Enterprise Plan

    • Pandorabots also offers a custom Enterprise plan, which is not detailed in terms of pricing but is available for larger or more specific business needs.
    • This plan likely includes additional features and support beyond what the Pro plan offers, but specific details need to be confirmed with the vendor.


    Additional Notes

    • Pandorabots provides a free trial for users to test their services before committing to a paid plan.
    • The platform supports various integration options, including OAuth via Google, Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, and Github, and users can create accounts using an email address and password.

    For the most accurate and up-to-date pricing, it is recommended to contact the vendor directly or visit their official website.

    Pandorabots - Integration and Compatibility



    Pandorabots Overview

    Pandorabots offers a versatile and integrated platform for developing and deploying AI-driven chatbots, ensuring compatibility and flexibility across various tools and platforms.

    Platform Integrations

    Pandorabots allows users to integrate their chatbots with a wide range of third-party channels. You can publish your bot on popular voice and messaging platforms through the available integrations listed on the Deploy Page. This includes integrations with web, mobile, and other messaging platforms, enabling consistent and high-quality interactions across different channels.

    Custom Integrations

    For users who need more specific integration solutions, Pandorabots provides the option for custom integrations, particularly for Enterprise Tier users. Other users can also create their own integrations using the RESTful API provided by Pandorabots. This flexibility allows developers to integrate their bots into various applications and systems.

    API Access

    To integrate Pandorabots with your custom applications, you can use the Pandorabots API. This API enables you to manage bot development, from creating and compiling bots to deploying them to production channels. The API requires a Developer or other paid plan, and you need to obtain specific credentials (user_key or botkey) to make API calls.

    Cross-Platform Compatibility

    Pandorabots supports deployment across multiple platforms, ensuring that your chatbots can engage in both voice and text interactions. This includes compatibility with web, mobile, and various messaging platforms, making it ideal for projects that require deployment on different devices and environments.

    AIML Compatibility

    The platform is backwards compatible with AIML 1.0, allowing users to utilize old bot files without issues. This compatibility ensures that developers can leverage existing AIML resources while still benefiting from the latest features and improvements offered by Pandorabots.

    Conclusion

    In summary, Pandorabots provides a comprehensive set of tools and integrations that make it easy to develop, deploy, and manage chatbots across a variety of platforms and devices, ensuring high-quality and consistent interactions.

    Pandorabots Website

    Pandorabots - Customer Support and Resources



    Support Options for Pandorabots Users



    Community Support

    Pandorabots has a lively and growing community of botmasters. If you have questions or want to engage in general discussions, you can post on the Pandorabots forum. For more general questions about AIML (Artificial Intelligence Markup Language) that are not specific to Pandorabots, you can visit the A.L.I.C.E and AIML Forum.

    E-mail and Telephone Support

    For users of the free service, support is primarily available through email. You can direct your questions to info@pandorabots.com. However, phone support is available for customers who subscribe to one of the Subscription Hosting plans. Commercial inquiries can be directed to Harry Kunze at harry@pandorabots.com or by calling 1 415-343-5894 during business hours (9am to 5pm Pacific Time).

    Documentation and FAQs

    Pandorabots provides extensive help documentation and a FAQ section on their website. These resources cover a wide range of topics, including setup, integration, and troubleshooting. The FAQ section addresses common questions and issues that users might encounter.

    Premium Support

    Users with premium plans have access to direct support from Pandorabots staff. This includes various plans such as cloud-hosted servers and professional services to help integrate applications with Pandorabots.

    Additional Resources

    Pandorabots offers a “playground” where you can build and test new bots, even if you have limited coding experience. The platform also allows you to import AIML files to pre-populate your chatbot with existing knowledge, such as using the Alice AIML files or repositories from GitHub. By leveraging these support options and resources, users can effectively create, manage, and optimize their chatbots to enhance customer engagement and streamline operations.

    Pandorabots - Pros and Cons



    Advantages of Pandorabots



    Open-Source and Community-Driven

    Pandorabots is an open-source platform, which makes it freely accessible and allows for a large community of botmasters to contribute and share their work. As of 2013, it had over 185,000 botmasters and 221,000 chatbots, indicating a vibrant and supportive community.



    Multilingual Support

    The platform supports chatbots in multiple languages, enabling users from diverse linguistic backgrounds to engage in seamless conversations. This multilingual proficiency is a significant advantage for global user engagement.



    Visual and Flexible Bot Creation

    Pandorabots offers tools like “Chat Design” and “Intents Tree” for creating chatbots, providing both visual and less visual experiences. This flexibility makes it easier for users to design and manage their chatbot flows.



    Integration Capabilities

    The platform allows integration with various channels such as web chat, mobile apps, and messaging apps like LINE, Slack, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Additionally, it offers integrations with Github and the ability to create custom webhooks using the Pandorabots API.



    Analytics and Debugging Tools

    Pandorabots provides basic analytics and advanced debugging tools, including the ability to view interaction metadata, run traces to see the processing steps, and edit responses directly from the chat interface. Users can also integrate third-party analytics engines for more in-depth analysis.



    Learning and Adaptation

    The chatbots on Pandorabots can learn and adapt to user preferences over time, enhancing their conversational capabilities. This is particularly useful for creating personalized interactions.



    Disadvantages of Pandorabots



    Limited Live Chat Functionality

    The live chat feature is limited to web chat and landing pages and cannot be used on other platforms like Facebook Messenger or Telegram. Additionally, transferring a conversation to a human agent is not automated and requires manual intervention.



    No Machine Learning Tools

    Pandorabots relies solely on the AIML (Artificial Intelligence Markup Language) scripting language and does not include machine learning tools, which are common in other chatbot building platforms. This limits its ability to handle complex interactions and learn from user data in a more advanced way.



    Data Storage Limitations

    The platform does not allow storing user data in a database for future interactions. Users need to create their own integrations with external databases if they want to store and reuse user data, which can be cumbersome and may require developer services.



    Initiation of Conversations

    Chatbots on Pandorabots cannot initiate conversations; they can only respond to user-initiated interactions. This restricts the use of features like broadcasts and sequences.



    Limited Analytics

    The built-in analytics on Pandorabots are considered limited, making it difficult to enhance the chatbot’s responses based on user interactions. Users may need to send raw logs to external systems to build more comprehensive dashboards.

    In summary, while Pandorabots offers several advantages such as multilingual support, flexible bot creation tools, and a strong community, it also has significant limitations, particularly in its live chat functionality, lack of machine learning tools, and data storage capabilities.

    Pandorabots Website

    Pandorabots - Comparison with Competitors



    When comparing Pandorabots to other AI-driven productivity tools in the chatbot and automation category, several key features and alternatives stand out.



    Unique Features of Pandorabots

    • Multilingual Capabilities: Pandorabots supports multiple languages, making it a versatile tool for global businesses.
    • Advanced AI and NLP: It utilizes Natural Language Processing (NLP) and AIML 2.0, enabling sophisticated chatbot interactions and context management.
    • Voice Recognition and Text-to-Speech: These features allow for a more interactive and user-friendly experience.
    • Analytics and Feedback: The platform includes an analytics dashboard and user feedback collection, helping businesses optimize their chatbot performance.
    • Professional Services: Pandorabots offers custom chatbot development, employee training, and code reviewing, which can be particularly beneficial for enterprises.


    Alternatives and Competitors



    ChatGPT

    • Versatility: ChatGPT is highly versatile and can handle a wide range of tasks, from SEO keyword research to summarizing documents and writing HTML. However, it is more of a general-purpose AI assistant rather than a specialized chatbot development platform.
    • Pricing: ChatGPT has a free basic version and paid plans starting at $10 per month.


    Notion

    • Project Management: Notion is a project management tool that has recently integrated AI features. It can generate text, autofill databases, and answer specific questions about stored information. However, it is not primarily a chatbot development platform.
    • Pricing: Notion is free for individuals, but AI features cost $10 per workspace per month.


    Braina

    • Virtual Assistant: Braina is a virtual assistant that offers AI-powered capabilities, including music streaming and compatibility with older Windows versions. While it is a powerful assistant, it does not specialize in chatbot development.
    • User Reviews: Braina is highly recommended by users, with a 95% approval rate.


    Rytr

    • Content Creation: Rytr is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps with content creation and writer’s block. It is not a chatbot development platform but can be useful for generating content for chatbots.
    • User Reviews: Rytr is highly praised by content writers for its ability to enhance creativity and productivity.


    Key Differences

    • Specialization: Pandorabots is specifically designed for chatbot development, offering advanced features like AIML 2.0 support, multilingual capabilities, and voice recognition. In contrast, tools like ChatGPT, Notion, and Rytr serve broader purposes such as general AI assistance, project management, and content creation.
    • Integration and Deployment: Pandorabots provides extensive integration options, including API integration, web and mobile SDKs, and multi-channel deployment, which are crucial for businesses looking to deploy chatbots across various platforms.

    In summary, while alternatives like ChatGPT, Notion, and Rytr offer powerful AI capabilities, Pandorabots stands out for its specialized focus on chatbot development, advanced AI features, and comprehensive integration options. This makes it a strong choice for businesses seeking to develop and deploy sophisticated chatbots.

    Pandorabots - Frequently Asked Questions

    Here are some frequently asked questions about Pandorabots, along with detailed responses to each:

    How much does Pandorabots cost?

    Pandorabots offers several pricing plans. The starting price is $19 per month for the Developer plan, which includes limited features. The Pro plan costs $199 per month and includes more extensive features such as a development sandbox, unlimited sandbox messages, API access, and support through email, chat, and phone.

    Does Pandorabots offer a free plan?

    Yes, Pandorabots does offer a free plan with limited features. This plan is suitable for those who want to try out the service before upgrading to a paid plan.

    How does Pandorabots provide support?

    Pandorabots offers two classes of service: free and premium. Free support is primarily through community efforts on the Pandorabots forum. Premium support, available through various plans, includes direct assistance from Pandorabots staff via email, chat, and phone.

    Can I host my Pandorabot on my own web page?

    While your Pandorabot must be published at Pandorabots.com, you can embed it within a frame on your own webpage. This allows you to integrate the chatbot into your site using an HTML frameset.

    What are the top features of Pandorabots?

    Key features of Pandorabots include appointment management, contact management, feedback management, analytics, and a knowledge base. Additionally, the Pro plan offers features like API access, chat widgets, landing pages, and integration with third-party channels.

    What types of businesses does Pandorabots serve?

    Pandorabots serves a wide range of businesses, including startups, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), mid-market companies, and enterprises.

    How can I build a FAQ chatbot using Pandorabots?

    To build a FAQ chatbot, you can use AIML (Artificial Intelligence Markup Language) to create categories and intents. Start by listing frequently asked questions and their corresponding answers. Use tools like the Intents Tree and Chat Design to make the process more visual and efficient. You can also use spreadsheets to automate building categories and upload them to your Pandorabot dashboard.

    What kind of customer support does Pandorabots offer?

    Pandorabots offers various support channels, including phone support, live support, and ticket-based support. Premium users receive direct and immediate attention from the Pandorabots staff.

    Can Pandorabots learn from customer interactions?

    Yes, Pandorabots can learn from customer interactions. It can establish a relationship with customers through conversation, collect information, and remember details from past conversations. This capability helps in building relationships and potentially leading to future sales opportunities.

    What are some common use cases for Pandorabots?

    Common use cases include building FAQ chatbots, concierge chatbots that make recommendations, and chatbots that solicit more information from customers to identify problems. These use cases can be combined into a single Pandorabot to enhance its functionality.

    Pandorabots Website

    Pandorabots - Conclusion and Recommendation



    Final Assessment of Pandorabots

    Pandorabots is a sophisticated platform in the AI-driven productivity tools category, particularly suited for developing and deploying advanced chatbots. Here’s a detailed assessment of its benefits, target users, and overall recommendation.

    Key Benefits



    Customizability and Sophistication

    Pandorabots stands out for its use of AIML (Artificial Intelligence Markup Language), allowing developers to create highly customizable and sophisticated conversational agents. This feature is particularly beneficial for those who need complex dialogue systems that fit specific requirements.



    Multi-Channel Deployment

    The platform supports integration with various systems and can be deployed across multiple channels, enhancing user engagement and accessibility. This versatility makes it easy to use the chatbot on different platforms, such as websites, mobile apps, and more.



    Development Tools and Support

    Pandorabots offers a range of development tools, pre-built templates, and comprehensive support, which simplifies the process of creating and maintaining chatbots. This is especially helpful for developers who may not be beginners in chatbot development.



    Analytics and Data Collection

    The platform provides insightful analytics and data collection capabilities, which are crucial for improving user experience, streamlining customer interactions, and making informed business decisions.



    24/7 Availability and Scalability

    Pandorabots enables the creation of chatbots that are available 24/7, which is essential for automating customer support, engagement, and interaction. The scalability of the platform ensures it can handle a large volume of interactions efficiently.



    Target Users

    Pandorabots is most beneficial for:

    Experienced Developers

    Those with some experience in chatbot development will find the platform highly valuable due to its advanced features and customization options. However, it may be less user-friendly for beginners due to its reliance on AIML.



    Businesses

    Companies looking to enhance their customer service, operational efficiency, and engagement will find Pandorabots particularly useful. It helps in automating customer support, improving user experience, and providing valuable business insights.



    Technicians and Engineers

    The platform can also assist technicians and engineers in solving problems related to the equipment they manage, indicating its utility beyond just customer service.



    Overall Recommendation

    Pandorabots is an excellent choice for anyone looking to build advanced and responsive chatbots. Here are some key points to consider:

    Cost

    The starting price is $199 per month, which may be a consideration for smaller businesses or individuals. However, the benefits in terms of efficiency, cost savings, and improved user experience can justify the investment.



    Learning Curve

    While it may be challenging for beginners due to its use of AIML, the comprehensive support and development tools provided can help mitigate this issue.



    Features and Integration

    The platform’s multilingual capabilities, voice recognition, text-to-speech features, and multi-channel deployment options make it highly versatile and useful for a wide range of applications.

    In summary, Pandorabots is a powerful tool for creating sophisticated chatbots, especially for those with some experience in chatbot development. Its advanced features, integration capabilities, and analytical tools make it a valuable asset for businesses and developers aiming to enhance customer engagement and operational efficiency.

    Pandorabots Website
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