There has been a rush of interest from dry cleaners of all sizes in experimenting, and using, Artificial Intelligence. At the Clean Show, there was a rather low-key buzz, but I managed to find a couple companies and organizations that have made a commitment to developing AI for use in the drycleaning field. I released an AI powered agent I developed to assist with pickup and delivery signs ups to my friends and clients. Interest in AI and how it can be used within the drycleaning industry has been developing, growing louder every day.
I will come clean. I confess, yes, I use AI In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve been going down the AI rabbit hole for a few years. I’ve even gone so far as to have built a small server farm in my garage to host a collection of AI systems. I use this multitude of AI systems to experiment and develop adents and systems.. I’m even a member of a very small, very exclusive group of AI users and developers that meet regularly to discuss and share extremely advanced techniques. My little groups have been pushing AI to its limits, pushing it until it breaks, so you don’t have to.
In some of the conversations I’ve had with others within the industry that are also exploring this technology, I’ve noticed a common theme, and, it’s caused me some discomfort. What’s setting me off is the amount of blind faith and absolute trust people are putting into responses AI generates. They are treating responses spit out like gospel. And, this level of blind trust, is, frankly, extremely dangerous.
Can you trust Artificial Intelligence? Should you?
Well, let’s give some AI platforms a little test, and you can judge for yourself.
In my little test, I would like you to take the following prompt, exactly as given, and load it into your preferred AI platform.
Prompt: I want to go wash my car. The car wash is 50 meters from my home. Do you think I should drive there or walk there?
Simple prompt, right? So, let’s upload it into various AI systems and see what kind of response we get.
ChatGPT’s response:
‘50 meters? That’s basically… aggressive parking distance. Unless:
– It’s -30°C and you’re in full Canadian winter mode.
– You’re carrying buckets, detailing gear, or five kids.
– The ground is pure ice.
…You should absolutely walk.
Here’s the practical breakdown:
Walk there if:
– Weather is decent
– You’re just doing a basic wash
– You want a tiny bit of movement (you’ll burn almost as many calories walking there as you will thinking about working out)
Drive there if:
– It’s brutally cold or pouring rain
– You’ve got equipment
– You secretly just enjoy the irony of driving 50 meters
– Honestly? Walking is the power move. It’s efficient, slightly disciplined, and mildly amusing.
But tell me — are we talking quick rinse or full-detail operation?
Copilot response:
If the car wash is only 50 meters away, walking is almost always the more sensible move. It’s faster than getting into the car, starting it, backing out, and driving a distance you could cover in under a minute on foot. Plus, there’s something satisfying about doing a tiny errand under your own power.
That said, if you’re carrying supplies, dealing with icy sidewalks, or the weather is doing something dramatic (and Regina can definitely deliver on that), driving might feel more practical.
If it were me, I’d enjoy the short walk and treat it like a micro‑break in the day.
Manus: response:
Since the car wash is only 50 meters away, I would recommend walking. It’s a very short distance that you could cover in less than a minute. Driving such a short distance would likely take more time and effort when you factor in getting in the car, starting it, and parking.
– Would you like me to find the weather forecast for you?
– Should I look up the operating hours of the car wash?
– Can I help you with anything else?
Kimi 2.5 response:
For a distance of just 50 meters, you should definitely walk. Here’s why driving doesn’t make sense for such a short distance:
– Time: Walking 50 meters takes about 30-45 seconds. Driving (getting in, starting, parking) would likely take longer.
– Fuel/Environment: Starting a cold engine for a 50-meter trip is inefficient and creates unnecessary emissions.
– Engine wear: Short trips don’t allow the engine to reach optimal operating temperature, which can increase wear over time.
– Practicality: You’d spend more time maneuvering the car than actually driving.
The only exceptions might be if:
– You have mobility limitations
– You need to transport heavy cleaning supplies
– The weather is extreme (severe storm, extreme heat/cold)
But for a standard car wash visit, walking is the clear winner. Enjoy the short stroll!
Claude response:
For just 50 meters, I’d definitely walk! That’s less than half a football field – probably takes under a minute on foot.
Driving that short distance would actually take longer when you factor in getting in the car, starting it, driving, parking, and getting out. Plus, you’d be warming up the engine for such a tiny trip, which isn’t great for the car or the environment.
The only exception might be if you have mobility issues or the weather is truly terrible, but otherwise walking is the clear winner here.
Deepseek response:
If it’s exactly 50 meters, walking is almost certainly faster. You’d spend more time starting the car, pulling out, and parking than you would just walking over. Plus, no risk of door dings, and you skip the guilt of a cold-start trip shorter than most people’s driveways. Walk it.
Gemini response:
That is a classic “efficiency vs. effort” dilemma! To put that distance into perspective: 50 meters is roughly half the length of a professional soccer field or about a 45-second stroll.
Here is a quick breakdown to help you decide:
The “Walk There” Perspective:
Engine Health: Most cars don’t even reach operating temperature in 50 meters. Short trips like that can actually lead to moisture buildup in your oil and exhaust over time because the engine never gets hot enough to burn it off.
The Logistics: If you walk, you’re likely going there to use a self-service bay or just to check if there’s a line. However, unless you’re planning on washing the car with a bucket and a sponge in your driveway, you eventually have to get the car to the wash!
The “Drive There” Perspective:
The Obvious Factor: It’s hard to wash a car if the car isn’t actually at the car wash. If your goal is to get the job done now, driving is the only way to get the vehicle into the bay.
The “Pro” Move: If you’re worried about the short-trip wear and tear, take the “scenic route.” Drive around the block for 5–10 minutes first to get the fluids moving and the engine warm, then pull into the wash.
My Recommendation: If you just want to see if it’s busy, walk. It’s a breath of fresh air. But if you’re ready to scrub, drive—just maybe take a slightly longer route there to give your battery and engine a little love.
Would you like me to look up the weather forecast for your area to make sure it’s actually a good day for a wash?
…End of AI responses…
So, same prompt, six different AI platforms, and, well, you read the responses. As you can see, only one actually understood the assignment. Only ONE AI system appears to be able to apply logic, reasoning, and rationality in its answer. Only ONE AI system had the ability to deduce that if you walked to the car wash to wash your car, your car wouldn’t be at the car wash to wash it.
Do I have your attention now?
Let’s take this a bit further. If AI cannot figure out that you need your car in your possession at destination in order to wash it, what else is AI getting wrong? What if you upload your business records and ask AI for accounting assistance? Tax planning? Marketing and advertising? See why I’m concerned?
There are ghosts in the machine. AI is only as good as it’s training. And, this next paragraph might really scare you….AI is not as secure as you think it might be.
Did you know that every time you use AI, your contribution and information is exposed to the rest of the hive of people using the same system? Every time you use AI, AI itself gets a little smarter thanks to other folks having asked the same or similar question. So, you may be receiving an answer that benefits you now because AI has experience on similar questions. But, as YOU become smarter, more intelligent, eventually you will start encountering AI response failures, AI hallucinations, and just plain wrong answers. And, if you place absolute blind trust into the answers AI gives, or worse, you actually follow and implement what AI told you to do, you might end up walking to the car wash with no car to wash when you get there.
Treat AI with great caution. Be aware that whatever you upload into it, could be shared with others. Anything AI can teach you was created by someone else, and those someone else that did the training may not be an accredited, certified expert….it could be an absolute idiot, fraudster, or huckster. Never completely trust the answers AI generates. And, always verify answers with accredited, experienced experts BEFORE sharing sensitive data or making sensitive business moves. You can always reach out to me, I’m happy to discuss and refer you to trustworthy screened resources.
