Tesla’s AI customer support…

Like many, I have heard that Tesla's customer support was receiving mixed reviews, with some users praising its convenience and effectiveness, while others reporting significant frustrations. I had never used it until last week when “SmartThings” , an app newly installed on my Samsung Galaxy phone, messed up my car audio system, preventing me from listening to my music, using the GPS or my car telephone system. 

I first tried to solve the problem myself and one hour later when I couldn’t figure things out, I called Samsung support which is chat-based, something I find utterly annoying. After spending 45 minutes, nothing was resolved. All this work happened inside my car. 

Then I only had one option left, call Tesla. I did, and after moving through a series of annoying menus, I got a female voice on the phone who asked me what my problem was and alternating between the Tesla screen and my smartphone, made me try this, that, and that other thing, and after 26 minutes of seemingly fast and efficient trouble-shooting suddenly the phone conversation came through the car audio system! 

The problem was solved. Not at all the horrible situation I was fearing about Tesla’s support service. I was very impressed and since I had noticed that during the whole process the voice would continue while I was interrupting it, I asked that question to the “lady” who had solved my problem: “Are you a human or a robot?” 

The answer was: “I’m a virtual assistant”, it was indeed a robot… That made me think that AI can be formidable when correctly harnessed. I was at the same time amazed and worried for all the white collar workers of tomorrow that might no longer have a job because of it...