Many users of AOL's AIM instant messaging client found some new "friends" when they logged in today: AOL had added some chatbots to their buddy lists. The bots have long been available to AIM members who were either very lonely or curious about a subject matter for which the bots could provide expertise (need chicken recipes? The Tyson-sponsored TysonPowerPlates bot is there to help), but today was apparently the first time that AOL decided to send them out into the world on their own. According to AOL, the first wave of bots to be deployed consists of ShoppingBuddy and Moviefone, and the company is soliciting feedback on the rollout. So far, the bots — which have also shown up in third-party AIM-compatible clients such as Trillian and iChat — seem well-behaved; they've got their own little section in your buddy list, are easily deleted, and apparently speak only when spoken to. When you do engage them, their repartee sometimes verges on the bizarre; Advance4Comfort, the bot sponsored by AcuVue contact lenses (which isn't part of this rollout), attempts to be hip, offering comments such as "plz expand the chat window so u don't miss what i have 2 say. now i have to ask u a few quick questions. then i can tell u all about these comfy new lenses and how u can try them out." If that's the best they can do, I'll give the bots a pass for now. But if they start singing "Daisy," it'll be time to pull the plug.