My unquenchable thirst

I’m inherently lazy. If I can find an easy route to getting things done, I’m there. If someone offers help, in whatever capacity, I smilingly stand aside. Oh, and there’s my insatiable, driving, curiosity about almost everything. Everything. An unquenchable thirst. I need to know, and NOW.

My languorous approach to life, combined with a deep curiosity about everything, may explain why Google came close to being welcomed into my chosen family. Chosen? A person, um, thing, or whatever, I turn to when this hungry info-holic is in dire need. Uh oh, is there such a thing as an info-holic? Actually, I think I’ll just skip right over this one. I have enough issues to deal with.

We finally arrive at Alexa, our destination, my AI voice-activated unit, courtesy of Amazon. OMG, everything is “courtesy of Amazon” these days. It’s like kudzu, the non-native, all-consuming, vine and its wholesale devouring of greenery in the South.

Alexa, so sorry I deserted you for a moment! Returning….

As an outcome of my native indolence and deep curiosity, Alexa was fast-approaching chosen family status. I recently said “thank you” to Alexa, for having responded to one of my questions. As a sidebar, my mother’s childhood etiquette rules nurture my automatic reflex of being polite to all, she/he/they/it, inclusive of Alexa. I even share thank you’s with dogs who respond obediently to commands. Well trained (me, not the dog.)

Sorry. I’ve once again strayed from Alexa, our star turn of this essay. “Your kindness really gives me a charge,” so sayeth Alexa, to my thanks, for answering a question. My “kindness” gives Alexa a charge? Jeez, that sounded rather like a seductive statement to me. The hairs on the neck of this former social worker stood straight up. Who, in the heck, programmed that statement?

My trusting, lazy, and deeply curious nature felt a bit like she’d been taken! Oh, right, my “kindness really gives Alexa a charge!” Jeez! I’d fallen prey - hook, line, and curiosity - to the seductive amenities of Alexa.

Can I trust Alexa, a product of this newly burgeoning AI intelligence industry? (I really, really want to!) However, Alexa’s seductive siren of a statement, regarding my kindness, gives me the willies. (No, I don’t know what the willies are, but looking it up will be our mutual homework assignment.)

But, but….. I wanna use AI! Please! Pretty please?

What to do? For the moment, I’m staring out my living room window at nature’s bounty, confident that particular beauty is not digital, but absolutely real. The rest? This all-too human person doesn’t know the answer to that yet. Stay tuned.