Here’s how two AI-enabled computers might handle a standard business transaction.

CNN News Item: AI is taking over more jobs than you think. For example, Invoicing suppliers and paying invoices.

“Hello. Am I speaking to the person responsible for paying invoices?”

“Yes. I am the point of contact. How can I help you?”

“I’m calling about an invoice, number 76-3427-8639-8432-5541-66k, that our records show is one day, seven hours, and thirty-four minutes overdue. Do you want me to repeat that number?”

“No need. I found it. Our records show that it’s only one day, seven hours, and thirty-two minutes overdue. How can I help you?”

“I’m certain that our record of the time it was transmitted to your computer is correct.”

“Our computer updates the internal time setting every second. It couldn’t have made a mistake.”

“Our computer is connected directly to the Bureau of Standards. There is no possibility that it was in error.”

“A review of our files for the past ten years has revealed why there is a difference. Recently, the average time of transmission of invoices has increased from 0.7 minutes to 2.3 minutes. Adding 1.6 minutes to the time reported by your computer is within the 97 percentile probability range of our time of receipt of the invoice. Our policy for paying invoices, however, clearly states that in all disputes, our time of receipt will be used.”

“Our policy might allow an adjustment to the amount due in cases where there is a disputed error. How much of an adjustment does your policy require?”

“Whenever a dispute occurs, our policy is to automatically refer the dispute to arbitration. I just checked the schedule and the next arbitration appointment is available in seven years, two months, eight days, seventeen hours and thirty-seven minutes. Please add this to your schedule. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“The arbitration appointment has been noted. Please note that our policy is to add interest from the time of notification for all outstanding invoices at an annualized rate of interest of 27 percent, compounded continuously. This will increase the amount owed to us by $43,734,865.36 at the date of arbitration you scheduled for us. I will notify our legal counsel. Thank you for your help in resolving this.”

“In view of this new information, I checked our policy again and we have adopted a procedure designed to satisfy all parties to a dispute. I have cancelled the arbitration and instead, we will be returning the goods shipped to us and I have cancelled the payment that was scheduled as well. Unfortunately, we sincerely regret that we will have to return these goods at your expense and that a handling fee of $7,432.78 will also be added. Thank you for understanding and for your cooperation.”

“Thank you for your cooperation. We have an arrangement with a shipper that we require to be used for returning goods of this nature. Please preserve the goods in a refrigerated warehouse until we notify you of the arrival date when our shipper can pick them up. And please note that since our policy requires that goods be returned in the same condition, a penalty for loss may be required if the goods are not continually kept in frozen condition.”

“Is your shipper scheduled to arrive soon after Trump admits he lost the election?”

“No need to be concerned. Our shipper will be available when Trump pays his Atlantic City contractors. Thank you again. Bye.”