Results: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is really dumb (so far anyway).
Some prominent people have raised the alarm that humanity is under threat from AI. My own experience suggests the biggest danger is to our blood pressure and the electronic devices we use when trying to obtain customer service from companies that use AI rather than hiring humans to do the job. In other words AI isn't the problem, it is bad decision making from the humans that run businesses. Here are some examples. "https://www.reuters.com/technology/ai-threatens-humanitys-future-61-americans-say-reutersipsos-2023-05-17/
1.
1.
Many companies have introduced "chatbots." A chatbot is a computer program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) to understand customer questions and automate responses to them, simulating human conversation. I have yet to have my customer service question answered by a chatbot and either end up phoning and waiting on hold to speak to a human or I answer the AI questions in such a way (I answer"no" to the robotic questions) that the chat gets transferred to a human. What do you think of chatbots?
Chatbots are OK only for FAQs (frequently asked questions) but not beyond that.
25%
•
503 votes
I find chatbots to be a source of frustration.
30%
•
604 votes
I find chatbots are a valuable source of information and help
6%
•
129 votes
Any business that thinks chatbots help provide customer service is sadly mistaken.
26%
•
514 votes
I have taken my business elsewhere rather than deal with chatbots
11%
•
222 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
17 votes
Not Applicable
27%
•
549 votes
- Hate them
- HATE them
- HATE them; they're stupid and I'll often "wait" to speak to a human.
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.30% | 6 | |
| Trump wins | 0.05% | 1 |
| Chatgpt is good at providing plausible-sounding bs, inaccurate facts | 0.05% | 1 |
| I search for a phone number or email before I use a chat bot. They are useless! | 0.05% | 1 |
| I always hit the zero button and usually it will connect to a human who may or may not be able to help | 0.05% | 1 |
| They suck and are so unnecessary | 0.05% | 1 |
| They don’t understand anything and I have to explain what I need too many times | 0.05% | 1 |
| Good first contact | 0.05% | 1 |
| They suck | 0.05% | 1 |
| I have learned to speak in short to the point sentences otherwise chatbots are useless. | 0.05% | 1 |
| With min wage at an all time high, to keep consumer prices in check, these are necessary to stay in business | 0.05% | 1 |
| I have not encountered a chatbot in a customer service situation. | 0.05% | 1 |
2.
2.
My son's household uses Google Assistant to switch things off and on, call the kids for meals and answer questions everyone is too lazy to look up the answer to. It uses a small two way speaker to monitor conversations even when not asked to. Things we discuss at meal times result in product recommendations the next day, or news articles or other proof that Hey Google, or Alexa or Bixby or other AI snoopers are sharing what they hear without our authorization. Is this sharing benign or is it a threat to our political and other personal freedoms?
I find these computer assistants are a valuable source of information and help.
9%
•
178 votes
I find these computer assistants to be a source of frustration. They never seem to be able to answer my questions.
19%
•
382 votes
I find these computer assistants to be an intrusion. They monitor personal conversations and I don't like that.
27%
•
543 votes
Computer assistants are OK for everyday questions but I don't trust them beyond that.
18%
•
366 votes
Computer assistants are one of the biggest AI threats because they make us intellectually lazy.
20%
•
394 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
14 votes
Not Applicable
32%
•
636 votes
- They are like a father in law
- Enemy
- Enemy...remind me of "Big Brother."
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.27% | 5 | |
| Trump wins | 0.05% | 1 |
| people loosing jobs among other problems, not worth it | 0.05% | 1 |
| I don't own one. | 0.05% | 1 |
| I don’t own a computer assistant | 0.05% | 1 |
| Google assistant is the worst | 0.05% | 1 |
| Never used them | 0.05% | 1 |
| I don't trust them | 0.05% | 1 |
| in reality they are a bit of both, the jury may still be out on which side carries more weight but I am betting on the intrusion side. I was at one time assisted by Facebook in tracking down and stopping/blocking a cyber stalker, so it's not all bad. | 0.05% | 1 |
| I don't use them | 0.05% | 1 |
3.
3.
Another use of AI is to translate one language into another. My wife and I taught ESL (English as a Second Language) in Mexico and some students tried to do essay assignments using translation software, sometimes with hilarious results. One assignment was nutrition labels on Mexican versus US products. I was reading the ingredients off a can and got to the word "Preservatives". which I translated as "Preservativos". This generated a burst of laughter. Apparently Preservativos are condoms. Instructions for electronic gadgets from China also must use software otherwise how could they be so bad? If you have used this type of app, what was your experience?
I have used translation apps on vacation and it didn't help much. (details please)
4%
•
82 votes
I have used translation apps on vacation and it really helped. (details please)
7%
•
131 votes
A literal translation of an everyday phrase caused an embarrassing problem. (details please)
6%
•
110 votes
Sometimes the translation into English was just as difficult to understand as the foreign language version. (details please)
10%
•
201 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
22 votes
Not Applicable
75%
•
1506 votes
- N/A
- no
- No.
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 1.10% | 6 | |
| Never used this!! | 0.18% | 1 |
| Trump wins | 0.18% | 1 |
| I used a translation app at work. I was an English speaking nurse living in Florida. | 0.18% | 1 |
| Never have problems translating with Google translate. | 0.18% | 1 |
| Sometimes works and sometimes hilariously off the wall. | 0.18% | 1 |
| Mixed reviews. Translated instructions included with a gadget to understand set up and other info well. Other times got the literal translation which is often incorrect. | 0.18% | 1 |
| I use Google Translate and it works well. | 0.18% | 1 |
| never use it | 0.18% | 1 |
| The translation can get violent because it is obscene. | 0.18% | 1 |
| Very poor. | 0.18% | 1 |
| I have taken a picture of a language to translate it only. | 0.18% | 1 |
| translating from English into other languages using the translate feature, well, it does not always work right. | 0.18% | 1 |
| worthless | 0.18% | 1 |
| It helped some but was funny too | 0.18% | 1 |
| prefer manual translation with a person | 0.18% | 1 |
| Google translate sucks | 0.18% | 1 |
4.
4.
For this last one I was going to complain about the computerized voices used on YouTube and some customer service phone calls but then came across this clip on YouTube that covers the subject quite well.
I find computerized voices difficult to listen to.
23%
•
460 votes
I find computerized voices difficult to understand.
18%
•
363 votes
I am quite comfortable with computerized voices.
10%
•
201 votes
I find it hard sometimes to distinguish a computerized voice from the real thing.
9%
•
185 votes
I find it easy to distinguish a computerized voice from the real thing.
15%
•
290 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
12 votes
Not Applicable
40%
•
804 votes
- NO
- no
- Not that I know of!
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.40% | 6 | |
| Trump wins | 0.07% | 1 |
| Sometimes they are really funny - for example the King Clarence dog videos. | 0.07% | 1 |
| The video is unavailable. | 0.07% | 1 |
| Computerized voices do not understand me, no matter what I say. | 0.07% | 1 |
| computerized voices with customer service usually don't understand my responses to their questions and are frustrating | 0.07% | 1 |
| Some computerized voices sound creepy to me, either like a grotty little monster or a hollow zombie. Only one other than my other half's is the British cgi voice. They are always clear, concise and somewhat funny in their polite starchiness. | 0.07% | 1 |
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