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neither_coloryesterday at 6:20 PM1 replyview on HN

That's been my observation of AI customer support. They're pretty much all glorified FAQ reciters unable to handle any unusual or uncommon situation not in the FAQs.


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mcmcmcyesterday at 6:42 PM

The one AI customer support experience I’ve actually enjoyed was last winter in a cold snap when my pipes froze. Drove to a Walmart to find a space heater and of course they were sold out. Called my local Lowe’s, got an AI agent, asked if any space heaters were in stock, it told me the one model left and the aisle to find it. Drove there and got what I needed without a fuss.

That’s the exception of course, literally every other time I’ve had to deal with an AI agent it can’t deal with the slightest deviation from its assumptions. Most of the time I call support, it’s because I already tried the automated options and they didn’t work for me. The fuzzy, nonstandard situations AI customer support agents suck are the one thing customer support is most needed for. I would’ve just used the website to check space heaters in stock if I hadn’t been driving.

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