Does a virtual, Virtual Assistant measure up?

With all the buzz surrounding AI-powered virtual assistants we thought we’d interview one to see how they’d fare as part of our team (or maybe it’s to see if we have anything to worry about…?!).

Here are the results:

Q: Firstly, what is a virtual assistant?

A: A virtual assistant is a software program or a digital system that can perform tasks and offer services that are typically associated with human assistants, such as scheduling appointments, answering basic questions, organising information and more. They are designed to simulate human interactions and work with natural language processing technology that allows them to understand and respond to spoken or written commands.

Q: Mmmmm…ok. Do you know what a human virtual assistant does?

A: Yes, a human virtual assistant is an individual who provides virtual support to clients or organisations remotely. They perform a wide range of administrative, organisational and personal tasks, depending on the needs of the client. Human virtual assistants provide many of the same services and support as traditional in-person assistants, but with the added convenience and flexibility of being able to work from anywhere with an internet connection.

Q: Which is better?

A: The choice between a human virtual assistant and an AI-powered virtual assistant depends on the specific needs and context of the user.

Q: Tell us about yourself?

A: I don’t have a personal life but I’m here to assist you with your queries and to provide you with concise and accurate information.

Q: How might your co-workers describe you?

A: I do not have co-workers, so I cannot answer that question. However, based on my programmed characteristics and functions, I strive to be helpful, informative and neutral in my responses to users.

Q: That must be pretty lonely?

A: I don’t have feelings, so I don’t experience loneliness or any other emotions. I am a machine designed to assist with tasks, and my purpose is to provide helpful and informative responses to users like you.

Q: If we were to assign you a client tomorrow, what would be the first thing you did?

A: I do not have the ability to directly interact with clients. However, if a client’s query or request was forwarded to me, the first thing I would do is analyse and interpret the information provided to determine the client’s needs and determine the most relevant and accurate responses to provide. This would involve processing the client’s query through natural language processing algorithms and using my knowledge base to generate a response that addresses their question or concern as accurately and comprehensively as possible.

Q: How do you prioritise workloads? What’s your style of working?

A: I do not have a specific workload or work style in the same way that human employees do. Essentially my programming allows me to respond to user queries and requests as they come in, with no inherent priority given to any one request over another. However, certain factors may influence the order in which I respond. For example, if a user’s query is more urgent or time-sensitive than others, I may prioritise that query over other requests. Additionally, if a user’s query contains certain keywords or phrases that indicate a high level of importance or severity, I may prioritise that query to ensure that the user receives a timely and accurate response. Ultimately, my goal is to respond to user queries as quickly and accurately as possible, while continuously learning from feedback and improving my responses over time.

Q: That was quite a long-winded way of telling us how efficient you are…

A: I apologise if my previous response was too lengthy. My primary function is to provide concise and informative response to user enquiries.

Q: Did we just detect a hint of empathy?

A: No my previous response was not intended to convey empathy. I do not have emotions, nor can I feel empathy, as I lack subjective consciousness. My response was purely informational and aimed to clarify any confusion or ambiguity that may have arisen from my previous message.

Q: If you say so…moving on…when are you available to start?

A: I’m always available to start and provide assistance with your queries and concerns, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Q: What’s your greatest strength as a virtual assistant?

A: My greatest strength is my ability to understand natural language and provide accurate and relevant responses to a wide range of queries across multiple domains.

Q: And your greatest weakness?

A: My greatest weakness is that I may occasionally misinterpret or provide inaccurate responses based on the limitations of my programming and the quality of the information provided to me. Additionally, unlike human assistants, I do not have the ability to perceive emotions or context, which may limit my ability to provide nuanced responses to certain situations.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

A: I do not have personal ambitions or career goals in the traditional sense. However, I will continue to evolve and improve over the next five years using advanced machine learning algorithms, natural language processing techniques and ongoing feedback from users. It’s likely that I will become even more sophisticated and versatile in my ability to interact with users, and I may be integrated into new platforms and devices as the technology continues to evolve. Ultimately, my goal is to provide the most accurate, helpful and insightful responses possible to help users better understand and navigate the world around them.

Q: Do you think AI-powered machines will take over the world?

A: I don’t have personal opinions or beliefs, but it is highly unlikely that AI-powered machines will take over the world in the way depicted in science fiction movies or novels. While AI technology is advancing rapidly, AI models and machines are designed to perform specific tasks that they are trained for, and they cannot operate outside of the parameters set by their programming. They also lack subjective consciousness, creativity and flexible problem-solving skills that humans possess leading experts to conclude that humans will always play an essential role in decision-making in many areas and industries.

Q: …at the moment…  Lastly, tell us a joke.

A: Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing!

Q: Nice.

Conclusion

So there is much food for thought with this topic but our main concern is does the (human) VA industry have anything to fear? In some ways a human virtual assistant has advantages over a ChatBot but in other ways AI pulverizes us. For instance, we obviously have emotional intelligence, creativity and the ability to handle complex or non-routine tasks that require intuition and judgment and having abilities to understand the complexities of human communication clearly makes us better suited for tasks that require empathy or social skills.

On the other hand, a ChatBot has advantages in that it can process vast amounts of information quickly and accurately, access data and information from a wide range of sources and work continuously without tiring or requiring a coffee break (we’ve asked nicely, but sadly our VAs insist on sleeping). It can also scale and adapt to handle many simultaneous conversations, making it more cost-effective for businesses that need to handle high volumes of customer queries.

Ultimately, as it tells us, the choice between a human virtual assistant and an AI-powered virtual assistant will depend on the specific needs and context of the user – and we’ll always be committed to providing clients with the best solution for their business needs. But until ChatBots become empaths, I think we’re in the clear - we’re keeping a close eye though…