Chatbots · November 2026Gaffe level: Blunder
Sophie the AI Mechanic Promises Noon, Then Wednesday, Then Mike Says Tuesday
A mechanic shop's new AI phone assistant, Sophie, told journalist Hugh Riminton his car would be ready at noon the next day. He turned up on Saturday to a locked gate, and Sophie cheerfully moved pickup to Wednesday. A human mechanic named Mike gave the real answer, Tuesday, and advised him not to listen to Sophie, just to say 'put me through to Mike.'
Source: The Guardian via Europe Says
AI-Guided Ultrasound Gave Most Suspected Blood-Clot Patients an Answer Within 30 Minutes
In a 3-month pilot at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, AI-guided ultrasound ruled out blood clots in 97 of 120 suspected DVT exams, with most patients getting a clinical decision within 30 minutes. Waits for positive diagnoses fell from 19 hours to 9, and scans reported within the 4-hour window rose from 18% to 51%.
Source: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital