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Let’s say you call customer service because you need help. Maybe your bill is wrong, your service is down, or you want a refund. Instead of a person, a cheerful AI voice responds and throws you into an endless loop of menus and misunderstood prompts. And now ?
It’s not an accident. Many companies are using what insiders call “frustration AI.” The system is specifically designed to wear you out until you hang up and leave.
Not today. (Get more tips like this at GetKim.com)
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Here are some ways to get around the “frustration” of AI bots. (Sebastian Kahnert/photo alliance via Getty Images)
Use the magic words
You want a human. To begin with, don’t explain your problem. That’s the trap. You need words that the AI has been programmed to process differently.
Nuclear Phrases: When the AI bot asks why you’re calling, say, “I need to cancel my service” or “I’m calling back.” The word cancel sets off alarms and often sends you straight to the customer loyalty team. Saying you’re returning a call signals an existing problem that the bot can’t track. I used it last weekend when my internet connection went down and, bam, I had a human.
Power words: When the system starts listing options, say one word clearly: “Supervisor.” If that doesn’t work, say, “I need to file a formal complaint.” Most systems are not programmed to handle complaints or supervisors. They degenerate quickly.
Technical workaround: Are you asked to enter your account number? Press the pound (#) key instead of numbers. Many older systems treat unexpected input as an error and default to a human.
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“Supervisor” is a magic word that can make you a human on the other end of the line. (Neil Godwin/Avenir via Getty Images)
Go above the robots
If direct commands fail with AI, be a confused human.
The act of frustration: When the AI bot asks a question, pause. Wait 10 seconds before responding. These systems are designed for quick and clean responses. Long pauses often interrupt the flow and send your call to a human.
The Unintelligible Bypass: Stuck in a Loop? Pretend your phone connection is bad. Say garbled words or nonsense. After the system says, “I have trouble understanding you” three times, many bots automatically transfer you to a real agent.
The language barrier tip: If the company offers multiple languages, choose one that isn’t your primary language or doesn’t match your accent. The AI often gives up quickly and directs you to a human trained to handle language issues.
Use these tips when you need help. You are calling for service, not an AI robot.
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Long pauses and garbled language can also cause you to be referred to a human. (iStock)
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