What is up with automated voice recognition on the phone?

Question

So I didn't get my Sunday paper this morning and called the company. An automated voice came on and had me say things like "Did you get your paper?" etc. All voice recognition and automated. The funny thing was that it made typing sounds like it was entering info on a typewriter or loud keyboard like a real call. I'm not sure what to think about that!

Answer 1

Some of those systems actually have people typing the responses, because it's much more accurate and faster than recognition systems. But the fact the directions are coming from a robot means people don't chit-chat.