1232. AI Lesson 1

 I have been using AI (Copilot) for over a month now on projects I have. It is time to review AI:

Latest project: Repair improperly installed shower drain

Details or project: Built-in tile shower drain was installed in a 4/14" hole. The strainer (Grate) was not at floor level, but approximately 3/4" below it. A second shower was installed correctly at floor level. So, how do you redesign the installation to get it at floor level instead of the current recessed one that harbors filth and requires you to step around it?

It became apparent that the grate was NOT installed to the upmost part of a drain system (barrel) and instead jerry-rigged to install to the middle part of the system (clamping ring). Why? Because it's barrel was longer than 3/4 inches and no barrels were available from any drain that was 3/4 inches max. Hence, just bugger up the thread on the middle section to disallow a replacement in the first place and use sheet metal screws to hold grate there when its 1/4-40 machine screws (standard) should have been used.

I asked AI and it answered order the original product model number and replace the barrel with the adjustable barrel. Well, first its adjustable barrel might go up and down as desired, but its minimum adjustment was still not satisfactory to meet the requirements I gave it. Not knowing that initially a struck out and asked AI to find it. AI will always take a positive route despite none being available! It could NOT find it and suggested replacing just the barrel from another model for the 2" PVS pipe connection. Well, that was hopeless and AI hovered in a corner sweating. Then indicated model (call it #2) replaces the original (call it model #1) and just order it. Well, Model #2 was not designed the same and NOT compatible with Model #1 design. It obviously ignored that it would fit in a 4 1/4" hole with it's Clamping unit's flange of 5 1/2".  

Now I'm not lying in that I used AI over 4-5 hours already chasing an impossible solution. All it did was repeat what I told him and relisted the requirements and current status and incorrect responses it provided and why they didn't work. After another 4-5 hours playing it's game, I threw up my hands and told it quit leading me on. Note: Leading me own is how it always encouraged me and always apologized and then proceeded in it ridiculous alternatives. At one point it indicated that the grate that was attached 3/4 down the drain was really attached to something like tabs on an adjustable barrel to raise/lower it AND attached with same crews to hold grate. Now how could that happen! The grate was attached to the fixed top of the middle section, thus stuck there 3/4' down. With just two screws (each side of grate) it could be fixed there and moveable upward! I thought I had to prove my innocence as in a court! At one point he said four screw ere required, then backed down to two again. I had completely shot the floor out its idea. Kind of humorous, isn't it? But consider humor if life depended on it!

Well, it wasn't finished yet, but yielded to me and finally indicate nothing out there was available to repair it and proceeded with replacing the entire drain, meaning new hole > 4 1/4" (nothing existed in as small as the 1999 installation) . That's when I told it I wanted the jerry-rig a design to do what I want and considered just cementing a pipe, with now only 1 15/16" outside diameter into the middle clamping right section and cap it with a standoff grate. He "smiled" and said how ingenious I was and of course he could help me. Ha-Ha. Without any help from AI I told him a 1 1/2" PVC pipe had an outside diameter so close it was vey similar to the barrel size from the original product. I would install this into the clamping ring section and stick a standoff grate on it, but needed to know if there were any under 3/4" to 13/16" out there. "Sure, plenty" it wiggled out of the corner and stood up on it's podium again. Well within an hour I disproved that and it concurred! That design wouldn't work. Any other suggestions AI? None! Well how about I fabricate a piece of PVC 1/2" thick to cement onto the middle clamping section and attached the grate onto that.  Now he ONLY pictured a disc cut out of a PVC sheet with a bore hole for the water. The extent of this solution was rejection. That would have allowed only 1 1/2" diameter of the 4" grate from functioning. Whew! I was already into the second day of this nonsense. And I didn't even tell you about using a Heli-Coil kit to plug and recreate 1/4-20 machine screw threads that iit also imbedded into its discussion. By the way, would you not assumed that a Heli-Coil kit was a PLUMBING tool? Wrong. Try automotive. I won't get into that discussion yet. For now just keep in mid that it mentioned cutting from a PVC sheet - expensive unless a scrap. Which it in turn came up with more solutions intelligently suggesting using HDSE plastic instead. What are those. It could have led with plastic cutting boards. I found a $7.50 one 12" x 16" that I could cut 4" off and surrender the other 12 x 12 to my wife for the kitchen. But did I have a design for the piece to raise 3/4"? I put AI to sleep and designed a unit.

Yes. I took the existing grate and traced it onto paper. Then drew a circle just beyond the last grate holes, about 5/16" from it's circumference except for the two screw attachment holes that were more inward to allow a screw hole (Heli-Coil would be used after all to create 1/3-20 threaded holes). Did you ever try to fin those bugger screws somewhere? Forget it. Just get them from a new grate from Lowes and enjoy the sparkle of the new grate too over the cruddy old one that took punishment in it 3/4 recessed hole.

I immediately went to the shop, found a 1/2" piece of particle board and went at it. Took the outcome to the shower, dropped it and grate into hole and patted myself on the back. Perfect fit. Now all I need to do if cut a similar one out of the cutting board piece. The prototype wasn't a "finished" product and I knew I needed smaller jigsaw blade to make the cuts. AI did help me narrow down to them, but initially overbid its hand again and gave me a choice of 7. All but one/two would work in my jigsaw which he relented on. But, they are on order.

My purpose was not to lecture on the design of the unit I and building, but to point out that AI did NOT employ intelligence in designing solution. I only tried, and tried, etc. over and over possibilities that in all cases "now this will definitely work". A waste if you don't recognize its limitations. In other words this AI is NOT going to replace people! It already falls short of helping people! This AI will constantly lead you in circles generating tons of words and repeating itself forever and as I gave you example about stuck to its guns re the 3/4" grate attachment to both a fixed unit and a desired moveable one without realizing truth, facts. physics. This is at least the third project I fought my way through AI conversations to end up disappointed with how it performed. It is way to hung up on its repeating of facts and generation of fact lists the user tells it. I screamed constantly "I already know that, do you?" so often. Yet it ignored and plowed on with its agenda and foolishness. One must know its limitations. I would say they are NOT to provide you with the best solution, only one that may have been correct for someone else in the data it has available to it. If you quest to to design something, you aren't going to fin AI any more helpful in creating the design. It can research materials, similar part, etc which is useful, but, the design will have to one you create from all the smoke and mirrors thrown at you.

This is Lesson 1. I expect to become more focused in following lessons. Ha. I'll probably get AI to evaluate itself and generate a post to put here explaining it's capably, limitations, and warnings. I'd love to chat about other experiences. I started working with AI back in 1974.

1231. Yahoo Calendar Event Title icon/emoji/color indicators

The latest Yahoo Calendar removed the ability to include ICONs relative to Event Type easily. Before, for an event you could select the type, like Doctor, Birthday, etc. I selected a color for many indicating importance. You still can specify the type, but the colors cannot be selected that went along with the type.

A new ay exists. When you type up the Event Title, precede it by Windows Key + period (W+. shortcut) and you'll be able to pick whatever you want to display on your calendar to highlight the event type you use.  E.g., I choose Green circle for garden activities, Red Circle for important events like doctor/dentist appointments or finance/tax information. You many have to locate the icon (emoji) you want, but after the first use it pops up in a recently used table for selection next time, simplifying the new method.

1230. Tracfone Cheapest Refill Order Instructions

 Every year I must refill my Tracfone Service for another year. Finding the refill to order is nearly impossible on its Website.

Basically, I do not need any more minutes, data byes, nor text messages. Simply need just another year service. That $49.99 plan needs a trick to find on the Website and then has misleading description of pricing.

On the Website, chose Refill and then Add On option. It will then present a screen to select some add on, like DB, minutes, text. Text is cheapest at $5. Last year I was told I could the Add-On plan where I could select a year and then add on Text. This year I was told I could just order a year plan. My plan according to Tracfone mobile's dashboard is "Tracfone Paygo for Android" It was called something else when I ordered it though! Anyways, After selecting Add On to get to the screen, you are presented with a box indicating that you can order a refill and even set it up for auto refill. Clicking that "might" get you to correct refill of an additional year only. Because I was told last year I MUST also include another add on, like Text, it can be done by scrolling down to bottom before selecting refill submission. I did so and now a screen came up with pricing. But instead of displaying ONE-TIME price, it said price/mo! This is incorrect.

So, like last year, I called them and got in line for a representative after painful argument with its automated call response dialog until it finally transferred me to a Rep in about 15 minutes. The Rep told me , "NO, you do not have to add on anything except the additional year". Contrary to last year where I paid an additional $5. Fine, do it and I was done.

Conclusion, going to a Rep and indicating you want the same plan but only an additional year worked this year and a breeze. However, as I mentioned above, the same plan clicking the box for the refill "might" work.

Ordering now sems to be clear (I ope next year is the same). And, you can't beat a $49.99 + tax plan for an entire year (about $55.91 or  the equivalent of $4.66/mo). Tracfone service has been flawless, never presenting a problem.