Secret phrases to bypass AI customer service bots

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Let's say you call customer service because you need help. Perhaps your account is incorrect, your service is not working, or you want a refund. Instead of a person, the cheerful voice of artificial intelligence answers you, plunging you into an endless cycle of menus and misunderstood prompts. So what now?

This is not an accident. Many companies use what insiders call “frustration AI.” The system is specifically designed to bore you until you hang up and leave.

Not today. (For more tips like this, visit GetKim.com)

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Here are some ways to get around the “frustration” of AI bots. (Sebastian Kahnert/Photo Alliance via Getty Images)

Use magic words

You need a person. To begin with, don't explain your problem. It's a trap. You need words that the AI has been programmed to perceive differently.

Nuclear Phrases: When I have a bot asks why you are calling, for example: “I need to cancel the service” or “I’m calling back.” The word “cancellation” raises alarm bells and often sends you straight to the customer retention team. If you say you're calling back, it means the bot can't track down the problem at hand. I used this last weekend when my internet went out and bam, I had a man.

Powerful words: When the system starts listing options, say one word clearly: “Supervisor.” If that doesn't work, say, “I need to file a formal complaint.” Most systems are not programmed to handle complaints or supervision. They escalate quickly.

Technical bypass: asking for account number? Instead of numbers, press the hash mark (#). Many older systems treat unexpected input as an error and are handled by a human by default.

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“Supervisor” is the magic word that can lead you to the person on the other end of the line. (Neil Godwin/Future via Getty Images)

Stay above the bots

If direct AI commands don't work, be a confused person.

Law of Frustration: When an AI bot asks a question, pause. Wait 10 seconds before answering. These systems are designed to respond quickly and accurately. Long pauses often break the flow and direct your appeal to the person.

Incomprehensible bypass: stuck in a loop? Act like you have terrible phone service. Say distorted words or nonsense. After the system says “I'm having trouble understanding you” three times, a lot of bots will automatically transfer you to a live agent.

Language Barrier Trick: If the company offers multiple languages, choose one that is not your primary language or does not match your accent. The AI will often give up quickly and refer you to a human trained to solve language problems.

Use these techniques when you need help. You are asking for help, not an AI bot.

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Long pauses and garbled speech can also result in you being referred to the person. (iStock)

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