Why Being Polite to AI Chatbots Matters More Than You Think

Civility can prompt better chatbot responses and help preserve our humanity in an era of rapidly advancing AI.

Key Takeaways: Being polite to AI chatbots can have tangible benefits, both in terms of the quality of responses and in nurturing positive human behavior:

• A recent study found that using moderately polite prompts can lead to higher-quality responses from AI language models, although excessive flattery can be counterproductive.
• Experts suggest that using respectful language with AI can help maintain the habit of being civil in interactions with fellow humans, preventing the normalization of crass or dictatorial communication styles.

The Evolving Landscape of Human-AI Interaction: As AI chatbots become increasingly sophisticated and integrated into daily life, questions about how we engage with them are becoming more pressing:

• The natural-sounding communication abilities of chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini make them seem more like conscious entities than cold machines, blurring the lines between human and AI interaction.
• Major tech companies are rapidly incorporating AI into their products and services, making engagement with conversational AI an increasingly routine part of everyday life.

Analyzing the Impact on Human Behavior: While polite AI interactions can encourage positive human communication habits, there are also potential risks to consider:

• Some experts warn that becoming habituated to using disrespectful language with AI could lead to people unwittingly acting the same way with other humans, eroding social norms and relationships.
• Children who are used to barking commands at virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa may become less respectful in their interactions with people, prompting companies like Google to introduce features that encourage polite language.

Broader Implications: As AI continues to advance at a rapid pace, it is crucial to consider the psychological and societal consequences of our interactions with these systems:

• Innovations in AI-generated voices and faces are likely to make chatbots even more humanlike, further manipulating our evolutionary impulse to ascribe agency to anything that seems human.
• While tech companies have financial incentives to drive such advancements, the long-term effects on individuals and societies remain uncertain, underscoring the importance of maintaining civility and humanity in our engagements with AI.