The Robots May Be Taking Over SOON!!

We seldom get phone calls from telemarketers, but yesterday we did. The caller purported to be representing a business from whom we MAY have made a purchase eons ago. His bait was "you have a credit from a previous transaction with us". Mind you, if there was ever a transaction, it would have been at least a decade ago.

My normal mode with telemarketers is to politely ask them to remove me from their calling list, then hang up. No ifs, ands, or buts. I recognize that the callers are simply working a job, but I am simply trying to get on with my day. Plus, I recognize that these chance calls are an excellent opportunity to be duped or scammed.

But he mentioned a credit. And silly person that I am, I listened as he continued in a smooth, cultivated voice. I listened intently, and it wasn't long before I began to think this was a computer voice...certain words and certain intonations. So I laughingly interrupted with "Are you a computer or are you a real live person?"

The voice on the other end immediately responded with a slightly amused sounding "Am I really that bad?" And before I could blink the voice shifted again to the rapid spiel of comments and leading questions.

He just about had me fooled for when I asked him to take me off his calling list this "computer person" simply continued with his script...the same questions he had previously asked...with the exact same intonation and inflection.

Computers are getting very, very good. Or else this guy has been at it long enough for his sing-song spiel to be computerly rote. Either he has almost become a computer or the computer has become almost human.

The entire conversation amused me so that I almost wish he would call back. If this was computer voice, it was a very, very good imitation of a real live person.

I'm warning you now, the robots may be taking over soon.

She said with a grin.
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