Letter: We're victimized by technology

I just got off the phone with my cable company. The maze of "robots" and robot assistants, websites, chat rooms and programed menus they put me through just to answer a simple question about charges on my bill was exhausting, frustrating and inhuman--of course inhuman, for 95% of the time I was dealing with audio androids.

I am a pretty laid back kind of guy, but at one point I found myself shouting at a talking machine. The poor thing could not answer my request because it was not in its memory store nor expressive language program. At one point I found myself trapped in a chat room that only added burden to confusion.

I was "ordered" to fill out all kinds of personal data about myself short of an autobiography. Mind you, all I wanted was to be connected to a live voice after giving legitimate identifying information. After 45 minutes of New Age dysfunctional communication, I hung up, called back and kept repeating loudly to the automated voice: "I must speak with a live agent!"

Finally, a real, breathing human got on the phone and said calmly, "Sir, live agents don't take payments over the phone or answer your type of question." He then connected me to a very special advanced robot.

I trust that many of us have had similar experiences with myriad large corporate entities, government bodies, etc. In bygone days it use to be (for example), "Hello, credit card company, I have a question about my last purchase." "Hold on sir, I will get a person (a real live human) to help you."

Artificial Intelligence has its place, but let's not become victims of "The Terminator."

Larry J. Powitz

Arlington Heights