Artificial Intelligence seems to be everywhere right now, writing essays, planning holidays, even suggesting what we should have for dinner. It’s clever, it’s fast, and it’s changing the way many industries operate. But when it comes to diagnosing and repairing something as specialist as a render or plaster spray machine, AI still has a lot to learn.
And as it turns out, we’ve seen that play out first-hand.
Recently, one of our customers called up with an issue on their spray machine. They’d been trying to troubleshoot it themselves, which we always admire, we know how resourceful our customers are! But this particular customer mentioned that before picking up the phone to CES, they’d decided to ask ChatGPT what was wrong with their machine.
The AI confidently suggested that a specific part needed replacing. Trusting the answer, the customer went ahead and swapped the part out, only to find that it hadn’t fixed the problem. Unfortunately, by changing the component themselves, it also invalidated their warranty.
When the job came through to our team, our sales manager couldn’t resist adding a note to the service ticket: “Customer has asked ChatGPT to diagnose the issue.”
Once our Service Manager, who has 15 years of hands-on experience, spoke to the customer, the real problem was identified , and it wasn’t a faulty part at all. The fault was actually with the power supply.
Our team quickly pinpointed the issue, got the machine back up and running, and the customer was back on the tools in no time.
This story makes us smile, but it’s also a reminder: while AI can offer quick answers, it doesn’t have the knowledge, nuance, or experience that comes from years of working directly with machines.
A spray machine, grout pump, or plaster sprayer isn’t a one-size-fits-all system. Over time, every machine develops its own quirks, its own “personality.” Our engineers know these machines inside out, not because they’ve read about them, but because they’ve spent years servicing, repairing, and testing them.
It’s a bit like " Doctor Google" for people: we’ve all been warned not to diagnose our health problems using the internet. You might type in a headache and end up convinced you’ve got something far worse. AI and machine troubleshooting can work the same way. While it can sometimes offer helpful direction, it can also take you completely off track, and, as our customer discovered, it can be a costly detour.
It’s that deep, practical understanding that makes the difference between guessing and diagnosing.
And that’s not something you can download.
We’re big believers in progress at CES, after all, we hire and sell some of the most advanced rendering, plastering, and spraying equipment on the market. But no matter how smart technology becomes, it still takes human skill to keep these machines running their best.
At CES Hire, that’s what we pride ourselves on, real people with real expertise, who care about getting your machine back to work safely and efficiently. We know that downtime costs you money, and that a rushed or incorrect fix can cause bigger problems down the line.
So, while AI might be smart, it can’t smell burnt wiring, spot a worn seal, or hear when your compressor sounds slightly off. It can’t feel that tell-tale vibration in the pump or know when a machine just “doesn’t sound right.” But our engineers can, and that’s why the human touch will always matter.
As we head into a more automated world, it’s worth remembering that some things still require good old-fashioned human experience. When your machine isn’t performing how it should, don’t turn to a chatbot, turn to the people who’ve spent years perfecting their craft.
Because while AI might have all the data, we’ve got something better: decades of hands-on knowledge, a knack for problem-solving, and the drive to keep your machines performing at their best.
So, if your spray machine starts acting up, resist the temptation to ask the internet. Give CES Hire a call instead because no algorithm can beat 40 years of know-how and a team that truly cares.