In a twist no one saw coming, AI-powered delivery vans from delivery companies have developed a peculiar sense of workplace decorum: they’re refusing to enter “unfriendly yards”. Now, drivers find themselves waiting in their cabs, watched over by an AI that demands better vibes before it’ll proceed.
The real-world revolution in last-mile AI, like Amazon’s Wellspring and UPS’s DeliveryDefense, is designed to improve route efficiency, Business Insider.
But as vans roll up to loading docks, they now peek around the corner, sensor radar flickering, and proclaim in electronic neutrality: “Detected: negative energy. Standby until vibes improve.”
One driver recounted pulling up to a depot at 9 a.m., only to have the van’s door lock and play Enya’s “Only Time.”
“I looked around, thinking I’d driven into a spa,” he said. The dock supervisor, unaware, responded by making a fresh pot of coffee… and the doors finally clicked open.
Dispatch teams are now scrambling to add “Yard Vibe Rating” columns to dispatch boards, where dispatchers can gift their yards a smiley-face score, a bonus for those who play upbeat radio or display motivational posters. One midwestern warehouse installed a disco ball and declared Fridays “FeelGood Fridays” just to coax enough good vibes.
Built-in AI scanners monitor tone and foghorn volume, any cross word from a dockworker, and the van politely declines to unload. One frustrated driver said, “I’ve shot six pallets of detergent and they still won’t open the doors, not until someone brings donuts.”
This trend has reportedly boosted driver morale but caused massive delivery delays. Corporate execs are now exploring solutions: robotic mascots, yard meditation sessions, and “AI-approved playlist” generators for loading personnel.
Still, not everyone is impressed. One logistics analyst dryly commented, “Great. We spent millions on AI, so now it can demand emotional support too.”
For now, drivers are told to remember: if their van locks them out, find the source of negativity, and maybe drop off some fresh muffins while you’re at it.
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