Deriving user intent from a prior communication

1. A method for operating a virtual agent, comprising:

obtaining, by an electronic computing device, a text string from a speech input received from a user, the text string including a pronoun;

deriving, by the electronic computing device, information from a communication received at the electronic device prior to receipt of the speech input, the information identifying an individual;

deriving, by the electronic computing device, a user intent from the text string and the information, the deriving the user intent including determining that the pronoun refers to the individual;

determining a response to the speech input; and

providing the response to the user via the virtual agent.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the speech input is ambiguous user input; and

determining to use the communication based at least in part on determining that the speech input is ambiguous user input;

wherein the deriving the user intent is performed based at least in part on determining to use the communication.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the determining that the speech input is ambiguous user input includes determining that the text string includes the pronoun.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing for display information regarding the virtual agent to facilitate an interactive session between the virtual agent and the user;

wherein the response to the speech input is based at least in part on the user intent; and

wherein the response is provided via the virtual agent for display to the user.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing a first task using a first parameter;

providing the response to the user based at least in part on performing the first task using the first parameter;

obtaining another text string from other speech input received from the user;

determining that the other text string is related to a second task different from the first task;

performing the second task using the first parameter; and

providing a second response to the user based at least in part on performing the second task using the first parameter.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication comprises a message.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication comprises a telephone call.

8. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

providing a virtual agent to facilitate an interactive session with a user;

obtaining user input, the user input identifying a pronoun;

deriving information from a communication received prior to receipt of the user input;

deriving a user intent from the user input and the information, the deriving the user intent including determining that the pronoun refers to the information;

determining a response to the speech input; and

providing the response via the virtual agent.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the user input is ambiguous user input; and

determining to use the communication based at least in part on determining that the user input is ambiguous user input.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the determining that the user input is ambiguous user input includes determining that the user input includes the pronoun.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:

performing a first task using a first parameter;

providing a first response to the user based at least in part on performing the first task using the first parameter;

obtaining other user input received from the user;

determining that the other user input is related to a second task different from the first task;

performing the second task using the first parameter; and

providing a second response to the user based at least in part on performing the second task using the first parameter.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the communication comprises a message.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the communication comprises a telephone call.

14. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

obtaining a text string from a speech input received from a user, the text string including a pronoun;

deriving information from a communication received prior to receipt of the speech input, the information identifying an individual;

deriving a user intent from the text string and the information, the deriving the user intent including determining that the pronoun refers to the individual;

determining a response to the speech input; and

providing the response to the user via the virtual agent.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the speech input is ambiguous user input; and

determining to use the communication based at least in part on determining that the speech input is ambiguous user input;

wherein the deriving the user intent is performed based at least in part on determining to use the communication.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the determining that the speech input is ambiguous user input includes determining that the text string includes the pronoun.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:

providing for display information regarding the virtual agent to facilitate an interactive session between the virtual agent and the user;

wherein the response to the speech input is based at least in part on the user intent; and

wherein the response is provided via the virtual agent for display to the user.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:

performing a first task using a first parameter;

providing the response to the user based at least in part on performing the first task using the first parameter;

obtaining another text string from other speech input received from the user;

determining that the other text string is related to a second task different from the first task;

performing the second task using the first parameter; and

providing a second response to the user based at least in part on performing the second task using the first parameter.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the communication comprises a message.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the communication comprises a telephone call.