Actual conversation with Artificially Stupid Chat Engine
Posted by Matthew on Thursday November 25, 2004 @08:42AM
from the Another-prognostication-comes-true dept.
Matthew writes: While browsing a news site online, I clicked a link to a company that markets replicas of an early automatic watch. What ensued was my first conversation with an Artificial Stupidity engine that went so far as to claim to be real, and then abruptly ended the chat when I challenged it. The conversation is transcripted below in its entirety, clever misspelling included.
(Click [Continued...] for the full chat transcript) You are now being connected…
You are now chatting with ‘Gina’
Gina: Welcome to Steinhausen Direct! My name is Gina and I can answer any questions you have on our fine watches and even offer special promotions. How may I assist you?
you: what is the special offer?
Gina: Place your order with me today and I will include a certificate for $ 20.00 to use towards any future purchase of $ 100.00 or more… or I can include your choice of money clip either silver or gold. Which do you prefer?
you: No thanks.
Gina: Which of our outstanding watches are you interested in today?
you: what models are there?
Gina: once you enter the site..click on the homepage…you will see the names of the styles on the left side
Gina: click on the names..and you will be able to view the picturres..a well as the prices.
you: If you are a real person, what day of the month were you born?
Gina: I am a real person….Which of the watches would you like to order today.
Gina: ?
you: Uh huh. What color is the sun?
Gina: Would you like to place an order with me today?
you: I’m more interested in proving whether or not you are an automated script. What color is the sky?
Gina: Have a nice day!
Chat session has unexpectedly ended.
Subject:No Subject Given
Link to the site?
Comment by Anonymous Poster — November 26, 2004 @ 8:04 am
Subject:Re: No Subject Given
I found the site. No Artificial intelligence engine there. Totally bogus story.
Comment by Anonymous Poster — November 27, 2004 @ 8:33 pm
Subject:Re: No Subject Given
i would say if you did not find any a.s. there, you did not find the site either.
Comment by deVas — November 29, 2004 @ 11:25 am
Subject:Not exactly proof
Many human chat sales staffers are instructed never to engage in any non-product related conversations. Add this to the fact that the chat engines do record transcripts, and you could easily imagine a *nearly* robotic employee steadfastly sticking to the rule of not talking about anything but the product. These chat systems also include “canned” greetings that automatically appear, so that the agent does not have to type them, as well as prewritten common responses that they can click on to insert into the conversation. I'm betting on it being a real person.
Comment by JB — November 29, 2004 @ 11:45 pm
Subject:Re: Not exactly proof
P.S. - “Gina” (perhaps not her real name) ended the conversation because it was obvious you weren't really interested in buying anything.
Comment by JaredB — November 29, 2004 @ 11:48 pm
Subject:Re: No Subject Given
http://www.steinhausendirect.com/index.asp
Show me the AS?
Comment by Anonymous Poster — November 30, 2004 @ 11:28 am
Subject:Re: Not exactly proof
Yea, I chatted with the person. It is either really really good, or it is a real person.
Comment by Anonymous Poster — November 30, 2004 @ 7:23 pm
Subject:Re: Not exactly proof
I am calling on Matthew to step down due to this unsubstantiated allegation. It is a mockery to journalistic standards everywhere.
This sounds like a good article idea, anyway.
Comment by Dan Rather — December 1, 2004 @ 1:24 pm
Subject:Re: Not exactly proof
Down with Matthew!
Comment by Anonymous Poster — December 2, 2004 @ 10:24 am
Subject:Re: Not exactly proof
Down with Matthew!
Comment by Anonymous Poster — December 2, 2004 @ 12:45 pm
Subject:Re: Down with Matthew
Crowds have gathered outside slashnot world headquarters today. See pictures here.
Comment by Street Demonstrator — December 4, 2004 @ 8:50 am
Subject:Re: Down with Matthew
Lynch him!
Comment by Anonymous Poster — December 4, 2004 @ 9:42 am
Subject:Re: Not exactly proof
A friend of mine had a conversation with an actual (in person) human being that went very much like that. My friend kept asking things like, “So, what kind of incentive program do they put salemen on here, you seem very interested in selling.” And the answers would always be “Would you perhaps prefer it in green?” or similar.
Comment by Tyson — December 6, 2004 @ 11:55 am
Subject:duh!
They are real people smart guy. The chat ended because you asked stupid questions.
You aren't real bright are you?
Manned center out of Richmond Va - 60 seat call center.
Comment by Steve — February 9, 2005 @ 11:03 am
Subject:Re: No Subject Given
crap comments!
Comment by gg — October 12, 2005 @ 2:32 am