Hertz’s AI Damage Detection: Shady & Unethical

You want the lowdown on Hertz’s AI vehicle damage detection? Sit tight, ’cause the dollar detective’s got a tale that smells fishier than last week’s tuna sandwich left in a cab under the blazing sun. This ain’t your typical tech upgrade—they’ve rolled out some high-tech eye candy that’s turning car renters into whipping boys for an endless money grind. Let’s peel back the layers of this greasy onion and see what’s really going on under the hood.

Imagine this: you return a rental with a ding smaller than the ego of a reality TV star, and before you even have a chance to blink, Hertz smacks you with a bill that screams highway robbery. They’re using AI-powered scanners from some Israeli outfit called UVeye, armed with high-res cameras scanning every nook, cranny, and micro-scratch like a DEA agent sniffing out contraband. The pitch? Streamlined damage checks and speedier returns. The punchline? You walk away lighter in the wallet, with fees piled on that’d make a loan shark blush.

Here’s the kicker—the damage fees aren’t just about fixing the car. Nope, they throw in a mess of “processing” and “administrative” fees like they’re sprinkling salt on a wound. Take Patrick, a poor sap slapped with a $440 charge for a scuff on a wheel smaller than a pack of gum. That’s $250 for the repair, but wait for it—$125 for ‘processing’ and $65 for ‘administration’. What’s that? You thought this was just about patches and paint? Nah, we’re talking profit padding, baby.

And the clock’s ticking fast. You return the ride, and BAM—the damage invoice hits quicker than a mugger in a dark alley. Renters barely get a sec to question the AI’s verdict before the cash registers ring. You try to dispute, and good luck getting a human on the phone. Hertz funnels you straight into a chatbot grey zone, a digital dead end where your pleas get lost in the cold circuits of silicon judgment. No empathy, no one to hear you out, just a robotic gatekeeper guarding the financial fortress.

Now, AI ain’t magic—it’s a finicky beast. Lighting, shadows, dust, or some random grimy fingerprint can send the system into a frenzy, flagging “damage” that’s about as real as a three-dollar bill. Plus, the tech can’t tell if the scratch was already there or you left it behind, forcing renters to jump through hoops proving their innocence, a Herculean task when you’re up against algorithms that don’t care about your sob story.

Why the hustle now? Hertz’s books took a hit—a colossal $2.9 billion loss last year. So, they’re squeezing every penny out of renters, dressing it up as tech progress. By the end of 2025, they want these AI hawks eyeing rides in 100 airport spots. It’s a cash grab dressed as efficiency, a slick dance of dollars drifting from renters’ wallets to corporate pockets.

This ain’t just a story about one rental giant’s new toy; it’s a warning flare about a world sliding into automation hell without a human in the driver’s seat. When machines decide who pays and how much, it’s a recipe for injustice served cold. Renters, beware—the AI detective’s watching, and it’s got a snarky smile and a bill that’ll slap you silly.

Case closed, folks.

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