Using topics to support follow-up questions

The solution remembers the topic from the last question you asked, which allows you to ask follow-up questions, for example: “How much does it cost?” The correct answer depends on the context set by the previous question. To use this feature, you must assign a value to the Topic field in content designer.

1. From content designer, edit item Alexa.001 (“What is an Amazon Echo Show”), and enter EchoShow as the topic in the Advanced section.

2. Choose UPDATE to save the item.

3. Edit item AWS QnABot.001 (“What is Q and A bot”), and enter “AWS QnABot” as the topic.

4. Choose UPDATE to save the item.

5. Choose ADD to create a new item for our first follow-up question:

   • Enter ID: Alexa.Cost

   • Enter question: How much does it cost?

   • Enter answer: For latest prices on the Echo Show, see the Amazon retail site or shopping app.

   • Enter topic: EchoShow

   • Choose CREATE to save the item

6. Choose ADD to create a new item for our next follow-up question. Enter the following values:

   • Enter ID: QnABot on AWS.Cost

   • Enter question: How much does it cost?

   • Enter answer: Q and A Bot is priceless

   • Enter topic: QnABot on AWS

   • Choose CREATE to save the item

7. Use the web UI to ask the following questions and observe the context appropriate answers:

   • “What is an Echo Show?”

     • The answer to this question now sets the conversation topic to ‘EchoShow’.

   • “How much does it cost?”

     • The topic disambiguates this question, so it responds with the answer for the Echo Show.

   • “What is the Q and A bot?”

     • This question changes the Topic to ‘QnABot on AWS’.

   • “How much does it cost?”

     • The new topic allows the QnABot on AWS to respond with the correct answer.