Can’t Live if Living is Without You

When I was seven or eight, I had a book about a little boy who lived in a world where everything was automated. He had no human contact. His alarm would go off in the morning and his clothes would have been picked out for him, his breakfast was made for him, his transportation to school and then school itself was automated–and solitary.

Then one day the electricity was off. He woke up late, had to pick out his own clothes, had to figure out how to use the toaster, struggled to find a way to school and once there, was surrounded by other children his own age who were equally confused by their new situation.

At the time I thought the story was a little bizarre, but possible. I figured the grown ups would find a way to stop such things from happening, so I wasn’t worried about it.

Now I’m trying to get the balance in my checking account and the online app is telling me my “authentication failed” and to “contact the contact center.” I have no idea how to contact the contact center, it’s a holiday, and I want my balance. Electricity hasn’t failed me, but automation has.

I admit, I don’t keep a ledger of my account balance. Does anybody anymore? I check my balance daily and I know how much money I have available. My wall calendar (yes, I still have one of those) tells me what automatic deductions I can expect throughout the month. I verify that these deductions have been made. It’s kind of like a ledger.

Of course, purchases have to be accounted for and I’ve made a few this weekend. I want to verify my account balance, and I’m frustrated because I can’t.

Will this sort of thing get worse with AI? I don’t know. I’m not saying the olden days were better–there was no way to get my account balance then other than my monthly statement. I like being able to verify my balance daily. It gives me a sense of security. I’m wondering now if something is wrong with my account. It’s more likely that something is wrong with the app (I think), but I want to be sure.

The story above ended happily. The little boy made friends and thrived at school. He learned how to make pancakes on his own. But will the story end happily for us if all of a sudden the Internet fails? Is that even a possibility? Do we have a backup life available?

Okay, maybe I’m making too much of this. But I do wonder.

Image Credits: Header © Morocko–stock.adobe.com; Boy dressing © Chunu–stock.adobe.com; Laptops © MDRONI–stock.adobe.com