EVERY COMPANY: heyyyy girl

ME: what's up

EVERY COMPANY: we've got a new feature for you!! 😀

ME: what is it

EVERY COMPANY: it's a brand new feature you're going to love it

ME: is it AI?

EVERY COMPANY: it... what? nooo...

ME: it's AI isn't it.

EVERY COMPANY: it's... not... not AI

ME: no I don't want it

EVERY COMPANY: but you haven't even tried itttt

ME: yes I have. it's horrible. i hate it.

EVERY COMPANY: but gurrrl those were the other AIs. our AI isn't like other AIs. our AI is ✨special✨

ME: no it's not it's the same shitty LLM just rebranded for whatever company

EVERY COMPANY: but that's what makes it ✨special✨

ME: oh fucking hell

EVERY COMPANY: our AI is named "Bob". bet you haven't talked to an AI named Bob yet have you? eh? eh? pretty special right?

ME: what the fuck no I do not want Bob the AI. just let me use your product without it.

EVERY COMPANY: oh no you can't do that

ME: why not?

EVERY COMPANY: because Bob AI makes everything easier.

ME: name one specific thing Bob the LLM makes easier

EVERY COMPANY: well he uh... um...

ME: ...?

EVERY COMPANY: uhhhh...

ME: ...?

EVERY COMPANY: he's your friendly helper.

ME: I don't need a friendly helper. I just want to use your product.

EVERY COMPANY: but we spent so much moneyyyyy on himmmmm you just gottaaaaaa

ME: no, I'm uninstalling Bob right now

EVERY COMPANY: oh no no no we can't let you do that

ME: I can't uninstall the AI?

EVERY COMPANY: no of course not

ME: and why not?

EVERY COMPANY: because then how would you possibly use Bob AI?

ME: I just told you I won't be using Bob the AI.

EVERY COMPANY: but how would we help you if you need help?

ME: literally any other way. call me, email me, text me, hell snail-mail me if you have to. plenty of customer service options to choose from.

EVERY COMPANY: oh we couldn't possibly do any of that

ME: and why would that be??

EVERY COMPANY: oh because we fired our customer service department. it just wasn't in the budget this year.

ME: and why not??

EVERY COMPANY: well to pay for Bob AI of course!

ME: I'm throwing your product in the trash. don't ever contact me again.

@Lana
Thing is, I would welcome a “friendly helper” if it was owned by me, on my computer and it actually helped automate tedious tasks, but this is never what they’re offering, it’s always the things THEY think you need (and can profit from eventually).