There once was a chatbot named DPD that could joke and swear but not help
UK delivery firm disables AI function after irked pianist gets it to write a poem about its poor response
21 January 2024 - 16:35
byWilliam Schomberg
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
London — A parcel delivery firm in Britain has disabled the artificial intelligence (AI) function in its online chat systems after a frustrated user coaxed the system into composing a poem about how bad the company’s customer service was.
“There was once a chatbot named DPD, Who was useless at providing help,” the bot wrote after Ashley Beauchamp gave up trying to get it to share a phone number for customer services and asked it to write a poem about bad chatbot service instead.
“DPD was a waste of time, And a customer’s worst nightmare,” the bot continued before concluding: “One day, DPD was finally shut down and everyone rejoiced. Finally they could get the help they needed, From a real person who knew what they were doing.”
Beauchamp, a pianist and conductor, posted his exchange with the bot on social media platform X on Thursday, since when it has been viewed 1.1-million times.
He said he initially asked the bot to tell him a joke after failing to get information about the status of a parcel and when it did he asked it to write the poem about automated customer service failings. He also encouraged the bot to swear.
Beauchamp told ITV television he had still not received the parcel. “I think they might hold it hostage now. I wouldn’t blame them,” he said. “That’s totally on me.”
DPD UK said it had used an AI element within its chat system successfully for years alongside its human customer service, but an error had occurred after a system update.
“The AI element was immediately disabled and is now being updated,” the company said in a statement reported by ITV.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
There once was a chatbot named DPD that could joke and swear but not help
UK delivery firm disables AI function after irked pianist gets it to write a poem about its poor response
London — A parcel delivery firm in Britain has disabled the artificial intelligence (AI) function in its online chat systems after a frustrated user coaxed the system into composing a poem about how bad the company’s customer service was.
“There was once a chatbot named DPD, Who was useless at providing help,” the bot wrote after Ashley Beauchamp gave up trying to get it to share a phone number for customer services and asked it to write a poem about bad chatbot service instead.
“DPD was a waste of time, And a customer’s worst nightmare,” the bot continued before concluding: “One day, DPD was finally shut down and everyone rejoiced. Finally they could get the help they needed, From a real person who knew what they were doing.”
Beauchamp, a pianist and conductor, posted his exchange with the bot on social media platform X on Thursday, since when it has been viewed 1.1-million times.
He said he initially asked the bot to tell him a joke after failing to get information about the status of a parcel and when it did he asked it to write the poem about automated customer service failings. He also encouraged the bot to swear.
Beauchamp told ITV television he had still not received the parcel. “I think they might hold it hostage now. I wouldn’t blame them,” he said. “That’s totally on me.”
DPD UK said it had used an AI element within its chat system successfully for years alongside its human customer service, but an error had occurred after a system update.
“The AI element was immediately disabled and is now being updated,” the company said in a statement reported by ITV.
Reuters
Are social media ready to battle fake news surrounding multiple 2024 elections?
‘Human-like’ AI comes into cars at CES trade show
What 2024 has to offer your body and mind
Axel Springer partners with OpenAI in landmark deal
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Why AI can give a sense of belonging but not friendship, at least not yet
‘Human-like’ AI comes into cars at CES trade show
New York Times targets 15-million subscribers by 2027, court papers reveal
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.