Service — or is it a threat to our way of life?

from offering any form of intelligence, it simply trotted out the FAQs without being able to address my specific inquiry. The entire process is designed to prevent the customer from getting in touch with anyone at the company. How dare we expect that basic right! I already refuse to deal with any company that fails to display its British address, a telephone number or any other way to make direct contact. I am adding AI to that list.

If we all did the same, companies that try to save money by sacking support staff simply to increase shareholder dividends will start to lose out to firms that value their customers.

I believe real intelligence beats artificial intelligence every time — just ask the consumer.

IAN WOOD, Edinburgh.

WE’VE been told AI is the way forward, will replace thousands of jobs and will improve our customer experience. What a marvellous new concept!

How about the Government replacing the civil service with AI. It would result in huge savings in salaries, holiday and sickness pay, bonuses and gold-plated pensions, not to mention eliminating bias and the deliberate thwarting of Cabinet directives.

Mrs HAZEL HORSNELL, Goring-by-Sea, W. Sussex. I HAVE no doubt that AI will quickly learn how to say: ‘We are currently receiving a high number of calls and our hard-working computers will take longer to answer your inquiry.’

GRAHAM HARRIS, Rochford, Essex. AI COULD be very useful in GP surgeries for doing routine checks and giving pertinent advice, allowing more time for the treatment of illness.

ANDREA CROOKS, Swansea.

HAVEN’T any of the scientists, politicians and company directors who are in favour of AI seen the film The Terminator?

JOHN KENNEDY, Hornchurch, Essex. IT’S much too late to suddenly be concerned about AI. Pandora’s box has been opened.