Do you read user manuals?

No, me neither.

Well sometimes. Last week we purchased a new washing machine. These are hi-tech, micro-processor controlled. I took the user manual – small font, so they also don’t expect people to read it either!

I did go through the user manual and it was fairly easy to install and start to use. I had my first query when some towels were still wet after spinning.
I wondered if there was a cycle that allowed me to only spin the drum and not re-wash.
So, I re-read the manual and discovered that there is indeed a separate spin cycle which worked perfectly.
It of course got me thinking why companies don’t put their user manuals into an AI Agent trained with their knowledge and user manuals.

The manufacturer of my washing machine has a support email, address, a form on their website and a telephone number so would have given me the right answer, had they been working on Saturday afternoon when I needed the information. Either way an AI Agent would have given a faster answer than holding on for their support line or waiting for an emailed reply.

The beauty of an AI Agent is I could have said (either by typing or by voice):
“My towels have come out wet. What can I do?” and it would reply:
“You can right now set it on a separate spin cycle (and it will explain how) and it will spin for another 5 minutes. In future, when you wash heavy items, you can choose a longer spin cycle by (and it will explain how).”

A washing machine is simple to use, but an AI Agent would have helped me A slightly more complicated product would be even more appropriate to have an AI Agent.
I acknowledge that you know how your product works and you have a user manual that you know is fully explanatory. It doesn’t mean that your customer will find it as easy to use as you do, at least the first time they try to use your product.

It is so easy to let an AI Agent use your user manual(s). Also, we continue to improve the AI Agent’s knowledge based on previous questions so on the off-chance it does not know what to do with wet washing, the day after someone asks that question it will have its knowledge updated and then give the correct time forever.

Try it. Ask me how.