The way that AI has inserted itself into so many lives and taken over so many human interactions is unnerving. Now, many people are choosing to interact with AI Chatbots over their own family and friends. We even see examples of being being interviewed by AI bots instead of real people. An Illinois restaurant worker found a new way that AI is being used to replace human interactions in her very line of work. However, there may be a good reason for the use of a Google AI assistant.
Mairead (@anxiousmairead) shared a story on TikTok about a call she had with a Google AI assistant in her line of work. She said she works at a restaurant and received a call that threw her off guard. In the call, the voice told her, “This is a Google AI assistant. I’m calling to make a reservation for my client.” Mairead sounded a little unnerved as she asked the assistant what day and time they wanted to book the reservation for. When she asked the assistant how many people would be there, the AI assistant said, “Um… four people.” This perturbed Mairead, who didn’t expect the AI to appear more human by adding in an “um.” Mairead went on to say, “I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit.”
Mairead said that it shouldn’t take such an effort to pick up the phone and call yourself. Or, she said another option is to make a reservation on Open Table. Now, personally, I refute the use of AI in virtually every aspect of my life. This means that I would go out of my way to avoid it in my everyday life every chance I get. However, one commenter made a good point. She said, “I had a client who was deaf and they would use the AI voice thing. The people saying they’d immediately hang up :/ I know it’s annoying and weird but some people can’t make calls.” This definitely helps me understand a little more where using the assistant might be necessary for some.
The uncanny nature of AI assistants can be quite disturbing, though. As one commenter pointed out, “When AI does a nervous laugh while answering my question that freaks me out, what is that about.” Another person said, “I hung up on these multiple times thinking it was scams lol.” Hearing a computer-generated voice on the other end is giving immense scam vibes. It seems like, in most cases, it would be easier just to book the reservation online.
