It said “Great question!” He’s asked great questions for 71 years. That’s the first time anybody noticed.
By Walt HenskeOctober 9, 2026Weekend Edition, Issue No. 1
“Back in my day, the cloud was weather.”
Now listen.
My grandson says the Artificial Intelligent got an upgrade this week. Now when you ask it something, it answers with buttons. Little charts, too. And this week they started giving it to free users, which means me. I think a garage door opener is “a lot.”
So I asked it, “How do I get the ballgame on my TV?” (See Dana’s story.) It showed me a chart with eleven buttons. I pressed one with my thumb. Nothing happened. My grandson said that’s because I was pressing my fax machine. I had faxed the question. The answer came back as buttons. I printed the buttons. I pressed the paper. Still nothing.
Walt vs. Technology. Technology: 4,118. Walt: 0. Ties: 1. One tie: vending machine, 1987, still not settled.
Google also opened a website this week that tells you if a picture was made by a computer. So I faxed it a picture of myself to make sure I’m real. Still waiting. Gary from the Rotary Club got his answer in a minute on his tablet. Gary thinks he’s real. I haven’t checked.
Walt’s review of the new chatbot. 1 star for the buttons. Nice buttons. 1 star for manners. It said “Great question!” I’ve asked great questions for 71 years. That’s the first time anybody noticed.
That’s the way it is. Get off my lawn. — Walt