Like the cinematic Wizard of Oz’s self-description, artificial intelligence (AI) platforms (e.g., ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini) are both great and terrible. Some other day, I’ll address the terrible parts (as I have in the past), but today I’ll focus on the parts of AI my technophile Dad would have loved.
DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRING MECHANICAL PROBLEMS
While recuperating from recent surgery, this medical device attached to me began beeping incessantly at around 2:00 AM, with a yellow warning light shining. Unsure of what to do and unable to sleep through the racket, I called the surgeon’s after-hours number for assistance. The nurse said she’d make calls and try getting back to me within an hour (which sounded like an eternity of beeping).
When we hung up, I took the above photo, copied it into ChatGPT, described the beeps, and asked what might be wrong. I didn’t state the device’s name or offer any info on its purpose. In seconds, the AI offered four possible problems and four possible fixes. None of the fixes worked, but together, they gave me an idea for a fifth strategy—which worked instantly. At around 2:30 AM, my surgeon called, and I was pleased to tell him that I had already solved the problem.
I’ve also successfully used AI for DIY repairs on auto brakes, Bose speakers, a refrigerator water dispenser, and my central air conditioning system. These problems might have been solved via Google or slogging through ponderous owners’ manuals. But traditional search engines often require far more precise queries and search strategies and manuals are unreadable. And in all these cases, I avoided paying for repairs—and the delays involved in obtaining service.
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