tech
March 11, 2026
The AI assistant was offering me any help I needed. All I wanted was a living, breathing human
When I heard ‘Rachel’ answer the helpline number in her metallic voice, my soul felt as empty as the batteries of my malfunctioning car
TL;DR
- The author experienced significant frustration with a malfunctioning EV charger and the inability to change WiFi settings.
- Attempts to get help through the manufacturer's website were unsuccessful, leading to the discovery of a phone number.
- The helpline connected the author to an AI assistant named Rachel, which sounded almost human but lacked genuine connection.
- The AI assistant's attempts to simulate a human environment were perceived as deceptive and unsettling.
- Multiple attempts to communicate with Rachel resulted in the line going dead.
- A human technician named Stuart eventually contacted the author and successfully resolved the charger issue.
- The author expressed a strong preference for human interaction over AI assistance, finding the human element essential for problem-solving and connection.
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