Noticing AI helpers at our town festival has me curious about their role

Last weekend, our town festival had new AI kiosks set up around the park. These screens could tell you where to find anything, from the band stage to the best pie stand. I asked one for help finding a lost item, and it guided me to the info booth. It was fast, but I missed chatting with a real person who might have shared a tip. Now I see these kiosks popping up in other places, like the library and community center. It feels like our town is slowly adding AI into daily life without much discussion. I'm curious if this is happening elsewhere and how people are adjusting. What do you all think about these changes? Are they making things better or just different?

2 comments

2 Comments

tarat598d ago

Self-checkout at the store comes to mind... it's quick but so impersonal. You just scan and pay without that little chat with the cashier. Same with those automated phone systems that never let you talk to a real person. It feels like we're trading convenience for connection, and not everyone notices until it's gone.

pat7198d ago

Ugh that hits home, lmao. I used to think I hated small talk with cashiers, but now I miss it when I'm just beeping soup cans at a machine. The wild part is my job puts me on the other side of it sometimes. I'll deliver a package and realize my only interaction all day was a quick wave to someone's doorbell camera. Feels like we're all just ghosts in the system now, and that's kinda sad.