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5
Jun 2007
The robots will never win
Posted by Scott Spielman
at 4:05 PM | Comments (2)
Rest easy citizens, robots will never take over society.
I say this not after some in depth investigation into the subject or the technology involved, but after a typical encounter with an automated voice system.
It all started innocently enough.
I was one of the few Wayne residents to be stricken without power when the brief but turbulent storms rolled through on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday, I called in to get an update on when power would be restored. The voice that answered was supposed to sound cheerful, I guess, and helpful as she—I think it was a she, anyway—guided me through a number of options.
Needless to say, it didn’t work. Maybe I was just feeling cranky.
I say robots never be able to mount a coup to take over mankind because they don’t know how irritating they are, even when they’re trying to be soothing and helpful. They’ll never be able to sense the discomfort their human-like voices causes in some nor the rage it brings out in others. Even if they do, they’ll never be able to react quick enough to stop a sudden attack.
We’re safe from that but, alas, not automated voice system mazes. They’re becoming more and more prevalent and more and more irritating.
Why is it that you have to wait around on the line for a dozen minutes before you can find an option that will connect you to a human?
Comments (2)
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