How to know if you are chatting with a bot

Artificial intelligence is expressed, in particular, in chat bots, with which we interact quite regularly today. But how do you know if it’s a robot or a human on the other end?

Artificial intelligence (AI) permeates every aspect of our lives with algorithms for everything and everything. Robots decide what we will listen to next, look, some can even write and create music. Most of us have no problem with this. AI is coming to automate the tasks we want to be automated, and more often than not, we are alerted to its presence. However, now AI is increasingly present in discussions, these are conversational robots or chat bots.

Fortunately, they are still far from perfect and can still be found. Here are some aspects to consider if you want to know who you are dealing with.

Look for awkward phrases

Even the most advanced conversational AI struggles with the language it is supposed to speak. English is difficult to master because it is a collection of borrowed words and grammatical inconsistencies. We don’t even speak French. While AI can produce decent results, some of the suggestions will sometimes be quite erroneous or even completely incomprehensible. If you feel like you’re talking to an alien who learned French by watching Japanese TV, there’s probably artificial intelligence on the other end of the line.

Look for repetition

Bots are also very determined. Human conversation is fluid, with digressions and such, but bots are made for a specific purpose, and they pursue their purpose no matter what. If you notice that the “person”you’re talking to keeps saying the same thing to you, it’s probably a robot. If she repeats the same phrase over and over, that’s an even stronger sign.

Pay attention to the speed of responses

Another interesting feature is the speed of responses. Whether written or spoken, bots usually respond faster than humans. If chats happen almost instantly, or if the voice on the phone gives you information right away where a human would need a little time, it’s probably a robot.

Note the lack of precision

Bots are often programmed to give vague answers when they don’t understand your request, giving you the impression that they are interested. This is a very old practice, easy to apply and gives the illusion of intelligence. If the “person”you’re talking to is hovering around what you’re talking about to get clarification, it’s probably a robot.

The other aspect is the answers that make sense at first glance but add nothing to the conversation. This is because AIs are often programmed to create a language that resembles real-life communication without adding anything significant.

Use the Crazy Ivan maneuver.

If you’re under the impression that you’ve encountered a robot but aren’t sure, you can try the maneuver we see in The Hunt for Red October. The Russian submarine captain, played by Sean Connery, abruptly changes course at irregular intervals, during which he explores his old rear sector and moves into position to attack his pursuers. Such unexpected movement can confuse a chatbot.

Although conversational AIs have become extremely sophisticated and difficult to spot with a short conversation, bots still have one major weakness: difficulty following each other. This is especially true of emotions and human relationships. In the middle of a conversation, ask your intended bot about his family or tell him that you’re feeling down to see a reaction. Bots are usually not ready for this, giving you a banal and repetitive “Sorry, I don’t understand.”

Sometimes even the chatbot doesn’t respond at all, whereas a human would probably chuckle and reply.

There will come a time when we will no longer be able to distinguish a bot from a human, but this is not the case yet.