Is there a phone hotline you can ring instead of googling something?

November 21, 2024 6:16 PM

Like an AI assistant I can call? Or even better, a live human. #DumbPhoneLife

(I live in Australia)

posted by pablocake to Computers & Internet (16 answers total)

I just figured out today there's a Chat GPT add-on for Amazon Alexa. So if you have a (talking) Alexa device like an Echo, you can ask it to ask Chat GPT questions. There's a paid service level for using it past the free 10 questions a month, but that's one option.
posted by Sunburnt at 6:26 PM on November 21 [1 favorite]

Call your friends. Someone will know and if not either Google it without telling you or worst case say no but be glad to hear from you.
posted by chasles at 6:39 PM on November 21 [1 favorite]

Call your local library! Librarians specialize in finding information 🙂
posted by elizabot at 6:57 PM on November 21 [40 favorites]

Specifically from the National Library of Australia

“From Thursday 14 November, the Library is implementing a new phone system.”

“For short enquiries up to 10 minutes feel free to call us during opening hours
on [phone]”

Have fun!
posted by calgirl at 8:05 PM on November 21 [15 favorites]

Yes, indeed, call the library. They are happy to help answer questions. If needed, ask for Reference or the Reference Librarian.
posted by LittleLadybug at 9:57 PM on November 21 [5 favorites]

I highly recommend the suggestions above to call the library. I once asked (alcohol may or may not have been involved) the librarian if they knew where my missing sock was. They took me seriously and came back with some statistics where people are most likely to lose socks or an article of clothing. Turns out it was hiding in the dryer outside of eyesight.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:15 PM on November 21 [23 favorites]

I have called the library for help with something I just couldn't find a clear answer to and they were great. I would think that might be problematic if you are looking for movie times or a local doctor though.
When I was a teenager, at the end of a party I called the operator to ask when the sunrise was. She said "go to sleep honey'.
posted by InkaLomax at 5:48 AM on November 22 [9 favorites]

If you have/are willing to use the ChatGPT phone app, there is a voice mode that allows you to converse with it. I found a video with instructions for it but have not tried this myself: https://youtu.be/Zv6ez_v0Gk8?si=MLgrKv_VbbV6BwPS. I'm not sure whether everybody has access to the voice mode though, or if you need to have a paid account.

Of course, real humans are also a great option, as noted above.
posted by number9dream at 6:08 AM on November 22 [1 favorite]

I work at a public library and we would absolutely look up local doctors or movie times if someone asked.
posted by tangosnail at 7:28 AM on November 22 [5 favorites]

Mr/Ms Gunn you are my internet hero
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:47 AM on November 22 [2 favorites]

nthing a local library reference desk. In the mid-70s (pre-Web) I once called to ask the definition of "borborygmi" which ended up being a bit embarrassing. It's "a rumbling or gurgling noise made by the movement of fluid and gas in the intestines." So it's unlikely your question would be worse.
posted by forthright at 12:18 PM on November 22 [2 favorites]

Librarians are AWESOME
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 12:45 PM on November 22 [1 favorite]

Enoch Pratt library in Baltimore used to have a homework helpline. So yes, libraries for the win.


There used to be a First Call for Help number back when we had phone books. Sometimes community based information is available via 211.
posted by childofTethys at 5:21 PM on November 22 [1 favorite]

Chat GPT is morally and ethically questionable, at best. Librarians are unearthly beings of pure knowledge. Choose wisely.
posted by Mournful Bagel Song at 5:46 AM on November 23 [4 favorites]

Mod note: [🧦 Hi! In case you were wondering where to find them, Johnny Gunn's story and this thread (and Mournful Bagel Song's apt description!) have been added to the sidebar and Best Of blog!]
posted by taz (staff) at 2:53 AM on November 25 [1 favorite]

Long ago I worked Saturdays in a reference library in England. We had a regular caller who would phone us up for help with the crossword. Which was fun for us too. Anyway I figured since it was likely they’d call, it made sense to be prepared. I took to taking a look over the crossword in advance, just so as to be helpful, like. This went on for a while. Anyhow, one Saturday I’d solved what I thought was quite a knotty clue, and mentally filed it away as being the one I figured they’d call about. Sure enough the phone rang, and by that time I knew what the caller ID portended. I figured I’d take a chance. I picked up the phone and intoned a single word. “Ourobouros”, I said. There was a pause. “How did you know?”

Call your psychic librarian hotline today, folks.
posted by aesop at 5:37 PM on November 25 [5 favorites]