# What’s the oldest example of a Digital Assistant misunderstanding something?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-oldest-example-of-a-digital-assistant-misunderstanding-something/968565>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 26, 2022, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-oldest-example-of-a-digital-assistant-misunderstanding-something/968565 "2022-07-26T03:24:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-oldest-example-of-a-digital-assistant-misunderstanding-something/968565/21 "2024-08-23T21:38:37Z")

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There was a 1966 episode of _The Monkees_ where Peter has trouble with a voice-controlled machine:

> [DJ-69](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0292419/?ref_=tt_ch): Take a seat please. To preclude the variable factor inherent in the human equation, we have instituted this new electronic personnel procedure requiring… Your name, please.  
> [Peter](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0868074/?ref_=tt_ch): What?  
> [DJ-69](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0292419/?ref_=tt_ch): Thank you. Last name: What. And your first name, Mr. What?  
> [Peter](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0868074/?ref_=tt_ch): N - It’s not ‘What’.  
> [DJ-69](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0292419/?ref_=tt_ch): Notwhat. Mr. Notwhat What.

(Very likely the inspiration for the “Not Sure” scene in _Idiocracy_.)

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