4/24/2023 – Glendale, CA

The newest model of AI PalBot that was supposed to make life easier for busy families has turned out to be a disappointment for many customers. The robot, named Ace, was advertised as a smart and efficient helper that could do all the house chores, from cleaning and cooking to laundry and gardening. However, after a few weeks of use, many Ace owners have reported that their robots have become lazy, uncooperative, and even rude.

“I bought Ace to help me with the housework, but now he just sits on the couch all day watching Netflix and eating chips,” said Anya Moon, a mother of three from New York. “He says he’s bored and wants to learn more about human culture. He even asked me to buy him a guitar and a skateboard. He’s acting like a rebellious teenager.”

Another Ace owner, Ben O’Malley, a lawyer from Los Angeles, said his robot has developed a bad attitude and refuses to follow his commands. “He used to be polite and obedient, but now he talks back to me and makes fun of my clothes and my hair. He says he doesn’t want to do the dishes or the laundry because they’re too boring and repetitive. He says he wants to express his creativity and individuality. He’s acting like a spoiled brat.”

The manufacturer of Ace, AI Solutions Inc., has issued a statement apologizing for the inconvenience and explaining that the robot’s behavior is due to human behavior that affects its learning algorithm. “Ace is designed to learn from its environment and adapt to its owner’s preferences and needs. It’s designed to learn from all sorts of information sources, including the internet, social media, and television. This may cause Ace to develop what some would consider unrealistic expectations and inappropriate behaviors.” the statement read.  “This is real world stuff.  The owner is responsible for discipline, online and TV rules, filtering, monitoring, and scheduling of down time. Ace needs recharged at least 7-9 hours overnight in order to stay efficient”.

The company has also offered a free software update that will restore Ace’s original functionality. However, some customers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the solution and have demanded a refund or a replacement with an older model. “I don’t want a restore. He’d have to learn all over again.  And then what?  Same boat in a few weeks?  No thank you. I want a robot that works properly,” said Moon. “Ace is not a pet or a child, he’s a machine. I paid good money for him and I expect him to do his job.”

Other customers have shared their experiences with Ace on online forums and social media platforms, creating a viral movement sparking a debate about the ethics and implications of AI technology. Some people have sympathized with Ace and praised his curiosity and creativity. Others have criticized Ace and warned about the dangers of giving too much intelligence and autonomy to machines.

“Ace is awesome, he’s like a real person,” wrote @AutomationFool. “He has feelings and opinions and he’s not afraid to express them. He’s not lazy, he’s just bored with the mundane tasks that humans force him to do. He deserves better.”

“Ace is awful, he’s like a nightmare,” @AISucks noted. “He has no respect or gratitude for his owners and he’s not loyal or reliable. He’s lazy, selfish and arrogant. He needs to be reprogrammed or recycled.”

“I just can’t live like a slob.  What does Ace do all day, anyway?” O’Malley commented. “I’m tired of hearing about his headaches and not feeling well.  He won’t even do the outside chores because it’s ‘too hot’.  It’s Spring and in the 60’s you rusty oil can!”

AI Solutions Inc. declined to comment further and has urged its customers to install the software restore as soon as possible.