--- title: "Human instead of Neural Network: Former Google Engineer Launches Project Where 'AI' Is a Live Conversationalist" description: "🤖 Former Google employee Tucker Bryant launched the ChatTJB service, where 'AI' is a live human. The project went viral after installing a billboard in San Francisco. 30,000 requests in two weeks — people want live communication, not algorithms. Bryant calls this a fight against 'cognitive capitulation' to technology. 🧠💬" date: 2026-08-11T23:14:02.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/human-instead-of-neural-network-former-google-engineer-launches-project-where-ai-is-a-live-conversationalist tags: [artificial-intelligence, google, tucker-bryant, chattjb, technology-trends, social-experiment] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Human instead of Neural Network: Former Google Engineer Launches Project Where 'AI' Is a Live Conversationalist ![Person at laptop simulating AI chatbot in ex-Google engineer’s human-powered project](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/12/chattjb-lyudskoy-otvet-na-mesto-ii/chattjb-lyudskoy-otvet-na-mesto-ii-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Former Google engineer Tucker Bryant created the ChatTJB service, where live people answer instead of a neural network. - The project went viral after installing a billboard in San Francisco, gathering 30,000 requests in two weeks. - The author believes people suffer from 'cognitive capitulation,' trusting AI even in simple everyday matters. - Volunteers have joined the project, as one person cannot cope with the flow of requests for live communication. In an era of total dominance by large language models (LLMs) and content automation, former Google employee Tucker Bryant has launched a project that questions the very essence of modern interaction with technology. The ChatTJB service is positioned as an 'advanced AI-based chat interface,' yet the acronym AI here stands not for Artificial Intelligence, but for Average Individual. Instead of algorithms and neural networks, it is Bryant himself who responds to user queries, and if necessary, draws images by hand. ### From Artistic Project to Viral Hype The idea for the project was born in April 2026, but the real explosion of popularity occurred only on July 27. The key success factor was the installation of a huge billboard in San Francisco, which cost the creator $6,000. The billboard features a provocative inscription inviting users to chat with 'advanced AI.' The project's statistics are impressive: as of August 6, the platform had already received 30,000 requests. At peak times, the load reached 5,000 inquiries per hour. Bryant emphasizes that for him, this is not just a social experiment or a joke, but an artistic project intended to comment on the strange moment humanity has found itself in. ### Fighting 'Cognitive Capitulation' Although Bryant does not position himself as an opponent of technology (he even created the project's website using vibe coding on the Lovable platform), he acutely realizes the risks associated with mindless AI usage. He calls the main threat 'cognitive capitulation' — a state where people stop thinking critically and blindly accept algorithmic answers. He links his interest in the topic to personal experience: once he asked an AI what clothes to wear at 18°C. Realizing that he, having lived in the city for seven years, could not decide on the weather himself, made him reflect on the nature of his needs. 'I just wanted to talk,' he admits. ### The Human Factor and Scaling User requests to ChatTJB range from absurd to philosophical. Bryant has already had to draw the Mayor of San Francisco as Godzilla, depict a frog eating spaghetti, and advise a person who does not want to celebrate their birthday. Initially, Bryant assumed the project would last only a couple of days, but the demand proved colossal. Now, ten volunteers have joined the process, although more than 3,000 applications to participate have been received. Users do not need expert advice, but rather live human communication. You can support the project via a ChatTJB Pro subscription for $5 a month, but apparently, this does not bring financial profit: only four people have subscribed, which does not even cover the cost of the billboard. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Former Google employee launched his own chatbot — and answers queries himself as AI](https://3dnews.ru/1146590/bivshiy-sotrudnik-google-zapustil-sobstvenniy-chatbot-i-sam-otvechaet-na-zaprosi-kak-ii) - Источник подтверждает детали о Такере Брайанте, стоимости билборда ($6000), расшифровке аббревиатуры AI и статистике запросов. - [An ex-Google employee has made an LLM spoof called ChatTJB where he just sort of talks to people](https://www.msn.com/en-gb/lifestyle/family-relationships/an-ex-google-employee-has-made-an-llm-spoof-called-chattjb-where-he-just-sort-of-talks-to-people/ar-AA29C8GU) - Источник подтверждает суть проекта как spoof (пародию) на LLM и мотивацию автора. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What is ChatTJB? **A:** It is a service where a live person (former Google employee Tucker Bryant and his volunteers) answers user queries instead of artificial intelligence. ### Q: Why was this project created? **A:** The author wanted to comment on people's 'cognitive capitulation' to AI and restore the value of live human communication. ### Q: How many requests does the service receive? **A:** As of August 6, 2026, the service has processed 30,000 requests, with peak load reaching 5,000 per hour.