By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
I think it’s safe to say that many folks in Athens/Limestone County (including some of the staff at City Hall) have, for the past 18 months or so been trying to figure out how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) appropriately and to survive the algorithmically-induced “cyber-tsunami” while keeping their sanity.
I also think it’s safe to say that no one expected to see AI be so hilarious while trying to improve customer service for our citizens. Such was the case when I arrived for our usual Ronnie interview and was buzzed in, only to have Mayor Ronnie say, “Ali, come here! Ya gotta see this!” I heard giggles and guffaws as I approached Holly Hollman’s office and saw several staff members gathered around her computer.
To set this scenario up properly, people need to understand that since the day of telephone-call, cassette-recording machines, when City Hall is closed, all non-emergency calls that are made to the city are recorded and dealt with beginning Monday morning in the event that any follow up is needed. These days the calls are also transcribed by AI. Back in the day, humans were the only ones who dealt with this, and I never thought I’d feel sorry for a bot that had been dragged into trying to figure out human strangeness. However, this Monday was an exception.
I joined in the merriment when I saw the printed transcript, and while I am only going to give you a few selections from a few calls, I assure you that I have checked and re-checked every word as to the creative spelling that was used by AI. Lewis Carroll’s 19th century nonsense poem, entitled Jabberwocky ain’t got nuthin’ on AI.
- “And she entered jerpings from her mother’s scandalous jerks and it was taken from a church girl in California and it’s a scandal involved with meddling a clergy for traleaxhery.”
No one knows what “jerpings” or “traleaxhery” might be, and in a moment I will give you the bot’s doggedly friendly and professional response.
- “He’s some excommunicated cleric who lurks rhomahton. Roddip for “know”…
Again, it’s anyone’s guess as to the meaning of “lurks rhomahton,” let alone “Roddip.” Is that a language?
Enter our cheery little bot’s response —
Ask Athens Chat Bot:
“I’m having trouble finding an answer, but I am continuously being trained to find answers on the website. Answers are based on website information, which is general information related to City of Athens departments. I cannot see your utility bill, make changes to your utility account, or report outages. I do not have specifics when there are outages.”
After we regained our composure, we concluded that the “rest of Ronnie” needed to be about something that made actual sense, like the annual Athens High School Pep Rally, which happens today. Small town. Classic. Southern. Character. Athens, Alabama, the home of the Golden Eagles, and a wonderful place to live, even if you are a bot that is having a hard time “finding an answer.” There was just one more thing to do, and that was to pray. So, we did, and then it was time for Ronnie to roll.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
