Nine Out of Ten People Hate Chatbots Getting in the Way
A new survey shows that most consumers think chatbots make it harder to reach a real person at a company. Many people feel frustrated when they can't get human help.
What's the problem?
Nearly 90 percent of consumers say that chatbots—automated software that tries to answer questions online—are getting in the way of speaking to actual company employees. When you call a business or visit their website, you often hit a chatbot first. Instead of helping, many people feel it just delays them from getting real support.
Why does this matter?
Chatbots were supposed to make customer service faster and cheaper for companies. But the survey reveals they're doing the opposite for most people: adding frustration instead of solving problems. When a chatbot can't understand your question or keeps offering useless answers, you waste time before finally reaching a human—if you can reach one at all.
What does this mean for companies?
This feedback is a warning sign. If businesses keep hiding behind chatbots instead of making human support easy to find, customers may simply take their business elsewhere. The technology works best when it genuinely helps—like answering simple, common questions—not when it's a barrier between you and the help you actually need.
The takeaway
Companies need to rethink how they use chatbots. They should make it quick and simple to jump to a real person when you need one. Otherwise, they risk losing customers who are already frustrated with the experience.
Original source: Emerce
