[LINK] The Past, Current and Future State of AI

[Roger Clarke]

Hi Roger, I’m Ceba the CommBank Assistant

Ceba said
I'm a bot. Ask me a question, I'm here to help you.
If you need human help I'll point you in the right direction.

You said
You said you would refund a disputed transaction. After 3 weeks, you
haven't refunded it. Where do I complai

Ceba said
I don't quite understand your question. Select an option below or try
asking me in another way.

You said
You're a total waste of time.

Ceba said
Looks like my answer wasn't helpful.
Thankfully I learn more every day.
You may find what you’re looking for on our help and support page on our
website.
Help and support
Link
Opens in a new window

You said
Please put me through to a human being.

Ceba said
If you tell me what you’re looking for in a few words I might be able to
point you there faster than a human.

You said
No thanks. Do what I asked.

Ceba said
I didn't quite catch that.
Could you try telling me what you’re looking for another way?

You said
What would be the point of that. You're a piece of artificial stupidity
designed to frustrate customers and s[ave s ...]

Ceba said
I don't quite understand your question. Select an option below or try
asking me in another way.

You said
hareholders money. And this stupid interface truncates my sentences.

Ceba said
I’m learning more each day.
You may find what you’re looking for on our help and support page on our
website.
Help and support
Link
Opens in a new window
You can also help by giving feedback.
Give feedback
Link
Opens in a new window

Thanks for completing the survey. Let me know if there's anything else I
can help you with.

You said
What an utter and complete waste of time!!

Ceba said
I'm always learning more about banking.
You can help me along by giving feedback.
Give feedback
Link
Opens in a new window

You said
To what? An artificially stupid bot??

Ceba said
I'm always learning more about banking.
You can help me along by giving feedback.
Give feedback
Link
Opens in a new window


[ Remarkably, Joe Weizenbaum's Eliza was less frustrating than that, and
delivered exactly the same informational value (viz. none) - although in
Eliza's case it was designed specifically to do that.  Joe did that work
as I was about to leave High School, in 1964-66:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELIZA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELIZA_effect

Human: Well, my boyfriend made me come here.
ELIZA: Your boyfriend made you come here?
Human: He says I'm depressed much of the time.
ELIZA: I am sorry to hear you are depressed.
Human: It's true. I'm unhappy.
ELIZA: Do you think coming here will help you not to be unhappy?[8]


-- 
Roger Clarke                            mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au
T: +61 2 6288 6916   http://www.xamax.com.au  http://www.rogerclarke.com

Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA

Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law            University of N.S.W.
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University