It used to be easy to tell when you were talking on the phone to a robot or recording. The choppy, sloppy wording—or the monotonous voice telling you to listen carefully because the menu has changed—was a dead giveaway that it wasn’t a live person on the other end of the line. But no more.

Although AI—artificial intelligence—has been around and in use for longer than most of us realize, it seems that it’s only recently that it’s become a big deal—and found virtually (no pun intended) everywhere. This really hit home for me not long ago during a phone conversation involving a medical appointment. And it took a while before I realized I wasn’t talking to a real person.

Like many people, I have two calendars—a digital one on my phone, and a paper one on the kitchen counter. Not long ago, I realized that each calendar listed a different date for an upcoming doctor’s appointment. I called the office to check on which date was correct, and after verifying my date of birth and the reason for my call, a very friendly and helpful person said, “I’ll be happy to help you with that, Elizabeth” (my legal first name, which is used only on medical, legal, and financial documents, or when I’m in really serious trouble). She then asked which date I wanted to check on. I gave the first date, and she quickly confirmed that as the correct date. I thought that settled it, until she said, “And what would you like to do with the second date, Elizabeth?” Something about her wording, especially since we had already established the purpose of my call, and had resolved the issue—made me realize I was most likely talking to a machine powered by artificial intelligence. It shook me up to realize how human she sounded, and how long it took me to recognize that she wasn’t.

I’m all in for the positive ways AI can improve our lives, and there are many. But I still can’t help worrying about how it’s used when we can’t tell the difference between a human person and an artificial one. In a way, it reminds me of an old commercial that asks, “Is it real, or is it Memorex?” But it’s truly frightening when I think of the original Westworld movie, about a Wild West theme park with lifelike androids that eventually malfunction and start killing off their guests. In the trailer for the movie, a promotional video for the park promises that guests will enjoy their stay in Westworld, the ultimate resort, where nothing can possibly go wrong…go wrong…go wrong…

February 6, 2026
©Betty Liedtke, 2026

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