Listening to a major broadcaster’s current affairs programme the other day.

The presenter was gushing on about a new, updated version of a chatbot that is being rolled  out.

He was so prettily enthusiastic about it, it was quite charming.

He enthused about how this would help The Economy, always a good thing whenever something new is announced.

Well, Dumbdumb, one of the first things it can do is take over your job. It would be well suited to spouting the inanities that you emit, probably without pause, hesitation or repetition. It could be given the editor’s script, which is normally handed to you, and then it would trundle out whatever corporate, or other, approved line of twaddle. Just as you do. Better. And cheaper.

That might not do your personal economy much good.

You also babbled about how the update had added “warmth and humanity” to the voice. It was supposed to be a young American woman speaking. Then you played a clip.

If I ever met a woman who sounded like that, I would run. And not look back.

If you could not detect the non-human inflections and timbre of that voice, then it confirms my suspicion that you are, in fact, already a chatbot.