Artificial Intelligence.

[Raven]

Like it or not (I don't) it's here. Do you fear it or will you embrace it?

BBC News - Chat GPT4: Is the world prepared for the coming AI storm?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64967627

[Jacqueline]

It frightens the life out of me what these things are capable of.  I hate the automated machines we are forced to use in supermarkets and banks, even worse is getting through the automated voices when you want to contact a company with a query, i.e a problem I had with my Barclaycard, it took me ages to get to a person, I was screaming at the "voice" in the end, I want a live person!! I find speaking to these things so stressful and it is only going to get worse.  Remember the film Terminator? frightening.

[Raven]

Yes I remember, it bothered me a lot at the time. Then the film "I Robot" came out and that really un-nerved me, it was just too close for comfort.

[klondike]

It's a left wing biased chat bot. It can't do anything other than reply to questions. Not much different from a smart speaker which have been around for years and they haven't started on a program of world domination. At least not yet.

[Diasi]

It's a left wing biased chat bot. It can't do anything other than reply to questions. Not much different from a smart speaker which have been around for years and they haven't started on a program of world domination. At least not yet.

Alexa can be a naughty girl.

When I ask her to turn on my electric blanket she asks me if I'd like her to keep me warm instead.

I'll leave her even naughtier reply to "Alexa, turn on the bathroom light" to your imagination.

[Raven]

I won't even have one of those Alexa things in the house. It's not big enough for two females.

But in all seriousness, I'm not at all ready to start to trust anything like that. Slowly, Slowly, and before you know it, they've taken over and your not the one in charge anymore. NO THANKYOU, Not for me. 

[Jacqueline]

I couldn't stand one of those Alexa things, I am perfectly capable of doing things for myself.

[klondike]

I haven't installed any home automation. I did get an air quality monitor as I wondered if the diesel fumes from the main road were evident inside. It seems they aren't but the thing does tell me about poor air quality whenever anything gets cooked or if you use any solvents. You get a high VOC level (volatile organic chemicals). It goes off after other events too on occasion and I renamed in honour of that aspect of its vigilance so keeping me safe. It can also give temperature alerts and reports through Alexa.

[Alex]

There is a Alexa button on my Firestick, but haven't used it much.   Yesterday I went for petrol and it was so busy only the ' pay at pump ' was available so I thought I've got no choice here.  The fella was talking to me over the tannoy, couldn't make out what he was saying ! I now know your card has to go in first.  It came up as £120 when my petrol was only 30 quid, but it gets better I pressed YES for a receipt and it gave me somebody else's.

The kiosk fella was ready for me, obviously must have heard my effing and jeffing to myself      All ok but I won't use one again.

[klondike]

Yes the £120 is annoying. 

I use my Chase debit card now rather than my CC for most purchases as it pays 1% cashback. Most of my money is kept in the linked savings account and I just transfer enough over for the day's purchases as the savings account pays higher interest. That is rarely £120. I had a pay at pump decline the card and had to go in and pay using the same card with no problem. I saw a declined £120 on the account which was the pump testing I could pay the maximum it would allow. I just go in now but pay at pump is quicker.

[Raven]

This excess taken off your card by garages could be a whole new thread. It's all over FB at the moment about how long it takes them to return the money they took. Left some poor guy in a real mess with no cash to buy his messages for the family.
It should be returned at once, as soon as the sale of fuel is complete.

[Diasi]

I'd never pay at the pump, for the same reason I'll never use an ATM that isn't inside a bank or a shop.

[Michael Rolls]

would not dream of paying at the pump, and when a station on a motorway tried to make me, I really threw them by pretending that I couldn't speak English and spoke to them in French (only time the bloody language has really been useful other than in France!)
Mike

[klondike]

What reason is that Phil? I've paid at the pump ever since the option became available and never had a problem other than this latest annoyance which wouldn't matter to me had I been using a credit card.

[Michael Rolls]

I don't trust any card transaction that isn't conducted in a retail situation right under my eagle eyes!