iFixit's FixBot helps with repairs 'the way a master technician would'

"What's entirely new is FixBot, an AI helper designed to talk you through repairs and troubleshooting. "You tell it what's happening: your phone dies at 30 percent, your washing machine won't drain, your mower sputters and stalls," CEO Kyle Wiens says in a blog post. "It asks follow-up questions. It eliminates possibilities. It thinks out loud with you, the way a master technician would, until the diagnosis clicks into place. Then it finds the parts and walks you through step by step.""

"iFixit says the bot pulls its answers from its repair guides, cache of PDF manuals, and user forums. For devices without a dedicated iFixit guide already, the bot "will do its best with manufacturer docs, targeted web searches and information from similar models," according to Wiens. Right now FixBot is entirely free to use, but eventually its voice controls and document uploads will be limited to a $4.99/month paid plan, with access limits applied to the free version too."

iFixit launched a mobile app for iOS and Android that provides the company's repair guides optimized for phones and tablets. Users can save owned devices, access relevant guides quickly, and purchase tools and replacement parts within the app. The app includes FixBot, an AI assistant trained on iFixit's guides, PDF manuals, and forums to diagnose problems through follow-up questions and step-by-step instructions. For unsupported models, FixBot consults manufacturer documents, targeted web searches, and similar-model information. FixBot is free for now, with planned paid features including voice controls and document uploads for $4.99/month. The app also detects device models and projects battery degradation.

Read at The Verge