NLWeb – Microsoft Launches an Open-Source Project Enabling Natural Language Interaction with Any Website

What is NLWeb?

NLWeb is an open-source project launched by Microsoft that simplifies the creation of natural language interfaces for websites, transforming any website into an AI-powered application. NLWeb leverages semi-structured data formats like Schema.org and RSS, combined with large language models (LLMs), to provide users with an interactive experience similar to that of an AI assistant.

NLWeb natively supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing both humans and agents to interact with websites using the same natural language API. It supports multiple operating systems and mainstream models, offering low deployment costs and easy usability.

Key Features of NLWeb

• Natural Language Interaction:
  NLWeb enables websites to interact with users through natural language, allowing users to simply input questions or commands to access website content or services.

• Content Discovery and Access:
  It presents website content in a structured manner, helping users find the information they need more quickly and accurately.

• Agent Interaction:
  NLWeb natively supports MCP (Model Context Protocol), allowing websites to interact with intelligent agents such as AI assistants or chatbots.

• Data Integration and Enhancement:
  By integrating existing semi-structured data from websites (e.g., Schema.org, RSS) and external knowledge from LLMs, NLWeb provides richer and more accurate user interaction experiences.

Technical Principles of NLWeb

• Based on Semi-Structured Data:
  NLWeb utilizes existing semi-structured data (such as Schema.org and RSS) to semantically describe website content, enabling better understanding and handling of user queries.

• LLM-Driven:
  Powered by large language models, NLWeb delivers natural and smooth interactions. LLMs can comprehend user inputs in natural language and generate accurate, relevant responses.

• MCP Protocol:
  NLWeb natively supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP), designed for interaction between chatbots/AI assistants and tools. Each NLWeb instance serves as an MCP server, supporting a core method called “ask” that enables users to query websites in natural language and receive structured responses.

• Technology Agnostic:
  As an open and flexible project, NLWeb is technology-agnostic. It supports all major operating systems (such as Windows, macOS, and Linux), allows developers to choose components best suited to their needs, and works with mainstream models and vector databases. This ensures great flexibility and scalability.

Project Links

• Official Website: https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/company-news/introducing-nlweb

• GitHub Repository: https://github.com/microsoft/NLWeb

Application Scenarios of NLWeb

• Retail & Shopping:
  Retailers can create chatbots that recommend clothing or products based on user needs, offer size suggestions, and check stock availability.

• Food & Dining:
  Cooking websites or restaurants can suggest recipes or dishes based on user preferences and available ingredients, and provide reservation services.

• Travel & Booking:
  Travel websites can offer itinerary planning, hotel bookings, and attraction recommendations, generating personalized plans based on user preferences.

• News & Content Recommendation:
  News websites or content platforms can recommend relevant articles, news, or videos based on user interests and browsing history, through natural language interaction.

• Tech Support & Customer Service:
  Corporate websites can build intelligent customer service systems that answer user questions about product usage, troubleshoot issues, and provide technical support.