Using AI for your auto response messaging with guests? Be careful...

[Account Closed]

Do you use AI for auto response messaging?  Does it save you time? Well it might come at a cost.

I was just looking at one of many Facebook groups for visitors of Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge and a guest just posted screen shots of their conversation with their "host".  One of the many problems they were having was sewage was backing up and leaking into the basement bathroom for days.  They had sent messages to the host through the vrbo platform with pictures of the issue for a couple days.  The screen shots of the conversation showed a response from the host each time starting with, "Can you answer a few questions so I can understand more.." When the guest asked for a phone number the response was "I am not available but you can call my assistant at..." Note the assistant never answered the call.

The guest did not know they were talking with AI the whole time. I quickly could see it was AI when looking at the screenshot of the messaging. Now the owner has two problems. First, sewage has been sitting in their basement for multiple days. Second, the guest is telling everyone to avoid this property like the plague (expect bad platform review and Google reviews).

So while AI might save you time temporarily it might cost you more time, maintenance and cashflow reduction in the end.

(And yes I noticed the misspelling in the title to the post, but BP will not let me correct it and I am a terrible at typing on a phone:)

[Michael Baum]

I never use AI for anything. I personally believe that it will be the downfall of our future. People who rely too much on AI can't figure things out for themselves means the end of innovation.

My 2 cents...