[carbking]

If "AI" is the acronym for artificial intelligence, what is the acronym for artificial stupidity? And why have most of the machines replacing humans answering telephones been programmed with it?

True story below:

Was trying to find a company that would either make colored prints from color film negatives, or digitize them for me.

Calling (name withheld)

"Thank you for calling ?????????? today, how may I help you?"

Me: "need to have prints from color negatives"

AS: "you may speak in complete sentences"

Me: "I need to have color prints made from color negatives"

AS: "you mean you want .........................."

Me: "no"

AS: "OK, please rephrase your question"

Me: "May I speak to an agent?"

AS: "you mean you want .........................................."

Me: "no, I would like to speak with a human"

This went on for several repetitions, then:

AS: "this is going nowhere, what department do you wish: (1) ... (2) photo (3) ....

Me: I pressed 2

AS: "I am sorry, the photo department is not available, I will transfer you to the next available department. Thank you for shopping with ?????????????"

Five minutes later

AS: "I am sorry, no departments are currently available (My note, this was during normal working hours), please stay on the line, and I will connect you with the next available department. Thank you for shopping with ?????????????"

Jon