Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, And The Future Of Connection

These are the names we call out now, perhaps more often than we call out those of friends and family members. Over the past decade we've become accustomed to the idea that when we call a customer service line, we must often pass through a gauntlet of voice-activated technology before reaching a human. The fact that we are willing to shout "representative" repeatedly in order to talk to a person shows both the limits of AI in its current state and our desire to connect to another human being. In business, the human factor is often the difference between a one-time user and a lifelong customer. It's a fact that luxury department store owners have known for years. Years ago, the most luxurious boutiques would keep files on index cards noting a frequent consumer's style preferences as well as any other details that might make for an easier conversation.