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Think of the problem in this way... you have a butler that is very very knowledgeable about all manner of things, which surely is a valuable and useful resource
by fallous 9y ago
Think of the problem in this way... you have a butler that is very very knowledgeable about all manner of things, which surely is a valuable and useful resource. When you ask him to pack you a tuxedo for attending the baseball game he responds with "might I suggest a more leisurely attire? I've noted that most people attending baseball games seem to dress casually." You may respond "Capital idea, man! By Jove, Jeeves you are a life saver!" He then packs your jeans and a bowling shirt in your travel bag and you are heartily satisfied.
Over the course of years you repeat this many times, until one day when Jeeves decides not to suggest but instead to simply pack your jeans and a bowling shirt. When you arrive at your destination and open your bag you are aghast and call your butler. "Good God Jeeves! I specifically asked you for a tuxedo to attend the baseball game and you packed me this slovenly casual wear!" Jeeves, in his defense, responds "but sir, for YEARS you've asked for a tuxedo to attend baseball games and I have suggested casual wear, and you have ALWAYS chosen the casual wear!" "True enough Jeeves, you presumptuous butler, but tonight I am singing the national anthem at the game! Without formal attire I shall be reduced to ruin! You're fired!"
Too many products have opted to be the presumptuous Jeeves, without even bothering to spend the years our poor butler did learning the eccentricities of his employer. And yet even with that dedication, poor Jeeves was fired because he was confident he could infer the intentions of his employer. Whether it was the arrogance of Jeeves presuming to know better than his employer, the ignorance of Jeeves in understanding that he lacked crucial information, or that Jeeves suffered under the delusion that past performance predicted future results matters not a whit... because Jeeves has been sacked.
Jeeves may find employment elsewhere but if he does not mend his ways he will eventually find himself unwanted and unemployable due entirely to his own faults.
- fiatjaf 9y agoI believe Jeeves is right in your story. You should have specified to him that this time it was different.
- fallous 9y agoNo I should not have, because Jeeves' job is to serve me and at no point did I confer to him the right to insert his decision-making over mine with regards to garment selection. Had I done so, then indeed I should have been explicit and specific that this was a change in behavior. I did not opt-in to the agreement.
- fiatjaf 9y agoJeeves is a human. If you think humans are going to work like that, you better never hire anyone.
- fallous 9y agoJeeves may or may not be human, but having hired many people and unfortunately having to fire a few people over the last 30 years I do have some experience with humans and work.
- ballenf 9y agoJeeves would have been the one to schedule the anthem singing and would have given you the choice of a couple suitable outfits for the occasion. Or just packed both the tuxedo and the jeans. If someone's flying you out to sing, you probably are in first class and have the upgraded baggage allowance. The mistake you imagine is exactly the kind of thing competent human assistants are good at avoiding and AI is terrible at.
- fallous 9y agoJeeves is my butler, not my executive assistant and presuming otherwise will get Jeeves fired as well. Competent human assistants know to negotiate formally or informally with their employers the limits of their authority. Unfortunately those creating products either do not know or do not care to negotiate clarity on such limits, and end up like poor Jeeves.