A surprise may have double the impact when its source is unexpected, I observed recently.
Having long dreamed of awakening in the morning
and walking into my kitchen and pressing a button
to hear what’s on my calendar and what weather to dress for,
and being the sort with little interest in owning
the latest in just about anything,
I lurched with surprise one morning
when I was in a state of whimsy
– though I had drunk only orange juice –
and said to my phone of two months,
“Hey Google, good morning,”
and for the first time heard
“Good morning, Sally:
The weather will be …
Today you have …
Here’s today’s news from …”
Not that my phone has concealed
its potential, for I peruse daily
its barrage of offers to make life easier
until I feel like an ancient seafarer
tempted by the sirens to veer off course;
and occasionally I allow my days to be
shipwrecked on the rocks of technology.
It has its human side as well,
this A.I. in my pocket, for not always
does it respond the same way twice,
though I’m quite certain my request
repeats exactly what I said the day before,
thus making its intelligence seem
not so artificial,
but reminding me instead
of people I worked with long ago.
Yet a worthy assistant it is,
understanding me well
despite my sporadic stumble
as I collect my thoughts,
and doing such excellent work
that I was once moved without thinking
to exclaim thank you!
to which it replied
“Just doing my job.”
My husband and I both purchased the Google Pixel 6 this year to enable us to operate each other’s phone more easily. As we “train” them to respond as each of us prefers, our experience is turning out to be rather like having twins: We expect our phones to do the same thing, but just when we think we have it all under control, we find ourselves perplexed by something different.
Periodically, Alexa asks me, “Would you like a cleaning tip?” What do you suppose makes her think I might need one?!! Fortunately for her, she intersperses that query with, “Would you like to hear a joke?”
Maybe her first question is the joke! It’s fun to hear how others have been surprised by A.I.
Love your poem, Sally. You are amazing. Keep entertaining us with your writing. You have a gift!
You’re a wonderful source of encouragement! Thank you!
I’m still resistant to interacting verbally with the AI’s in our home. But Alexa is persistent and sometimes will start talking when we haven’t said a word. Yikes! Thanks for the fun thoughts, Sally.
I understand the “Yikes!” Gwynne. Yours was more like a “Big brother is watching” experience. Thanks for sharing.
One time talking to Tim I was talking about a message then my message started to print. I don’t recall hitting mic…could have. However, love their kind speaking!
Love reading your stories Sally! I can picture you during things you write about. Thanks for more smiles!
Wonderful to hear from you, Dorothy. Thanks for your message.
My Smart phone, flip phone & computer do not understand that “I am she who must be obeyed.”
Doris
You have me laughing, Doris.
I continue to astonished by technology. I am glad that I have the capacity to use it, well, most of the time.
Ditto, Carol.
You didn’t mention that you said Good Morning, Google when you were riding through Montana, which really made its reply startling.
True!
I always love what you write! Thanks, Sally! 🙂