Illustration by RJ Matson; Courtesy of families (Karthik and Lydia)

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Should We Be Polite to AI?

Artificial intelligence (AI) can make virtual assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri seem almost human. But does that mean you should say “please” and “thank you” to them? Two out of three Americans say they’re polite to smart speakers and AI chatbots. That’s according to a 2024 survey by Future, a publishing company. 

Many people think it’s unnecessary to be nice to AI assistants. After all, they’re just computer programs. These people point out that we don’t type “please” when using Google to find information. Plus, some say, using extra words can make an AI request less direct or even confusing. 

But others argue that it’s rude to just bark orders, even when you’re talking to a device. They say manners always matter, so why not be polite to AI? 

Here’s what two of our readers think.

You shouldn’t think “AI is a machine, so I don’t need to be kind to it.” Alexa and other AI assistants are programmed to be polite. So why can’t we be nice to them too? Using good manners with AI will get us in the habit of doing the same with people. 

Some studies have found that AI tools like ChatGPT give better results when users type “please.” So being kind pays off, even with a computer program! 

Saying “please” and “thank you” to AI assistants is a waste of time. It’s important to be polite to people. But Alexa and Siri only sound human. We don’t have to worry about hurting their feelings, because they don’t have any! 

We don’t say “please” to other devices, like the TV remote control. And would you ever thank your toaster or refrigerator? That would just be silly.

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