Now, artificially intelligent online persona to tell you how to join US military

SYDNEY - Artificially intelligent agents are deftly handling several routine customer relations jobs over the web.

These online personas can answer just about everything from opening a bank account to booking a flight or even joining the US military.

For instance, the US Army’s Sergeant Star can give you basic information about life in the service. It is based on artificial intelligence (AI) technology from US company Next IT.

The technology has also helped create artificial personas for Alaska Airlines, Continental Airlines and many other websites, complete with names and faces.

“There’s a huge need for this, because as technology grows and becomes more and more complex with more and more information, there has to be a way to simplify that and make it more adaptable and more personalised,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Fred Brown, founder and chief executive of Next IT, as saying.

He added: “We are helping customers with complex products and technology and services, figuring out appropriate offers for up-selling and cross-selling.”

Brown, however, does not expect artificial intelligent agents to replace human call-centre operators, even as he believes their presence would free humans to take on more interesting work.

He said: “I don’t think computers have intuition or a soul. You can teach them to be polite and courteous but what about compassion and empathy?

“And those things are very important to how you feel. Sometimes you just want to interact with another soul.” (ANI)