Let’s face it. We’ve all been guilty of using artificial intelligence (AI) at one point or another. Whether it is to help study for an exam, generate an innovative idea for your next biggest project, or learn more about a specific topic, AI has been at the center of our lives since its immense traction in 2023.
As helpful as AI can be, have you ever wondered why you do not always get the most ideal results you need? Are you giving it all the right details? Are you clear in your ask? Or maybe, what if the real issue could be the way you’re speaking to it?
Latest research shows that AI bots are similar to humans, therefore, the way we talk to it impacts the response. In a study where researchers tested a half-dozen chatbots against numerous tasks, using up to 150 prompts per task, it ultimately found that large language models (LLMs) tend to give better answers when prompted respectfully. On the flip side, failure to be polite can significantly affect LLM performance.
To put it simply, AI systems have been fed existing information from books, the internet, and many other resources of human language. When they are prompted with a request, AI mirrors its output based on the kindness you provide. While they cannot “feel” emotions, they have the ability to interpret content back to us, depending on how the ask is received. In other words, basic human etiquette can go a long way, and you’re more likely to get graciousness if you return the favor first.
Like one AI expert believes it, if we demand from AI, we’re setting the tone in its communication pattern.
“If I spend hours each day being abrupt, demanding, and impatient with AI tools, I’m strengthening those neural pathways. I’m making that communication style more automatic, more default,” Shane Tepper said, an AI specialist. “The habits we form, the expectations we set, and the communication styles we practice are setting precedents that may influence technology development for decades to come.”
AI technology is on an upward trajectory, so protecting it at all costs should be a priority. Currently, about 55% of organizations have used AI systems to some degree, suggesting increased automation for many businesses in the near future. In addition, it is projected that the AI market will reach about $1,345.20 billion by 2030. Statistics prove AI is certainly not going anywhere, meaning there is something to be said about the way we treat it.
So, what is the solution to effectively communicating with AI? A best practice is to start simple, which could look like starting your request with “please” while maintaining a friendly, yet conversational, tone. Furthermore, you should always be clear and concise in your prompt, but remember to steer away from anything that sounds too harsh or passive. Avoid sarcasm and over complex phrasing, and when it comes down to it, you should always think like you’re talking to a human.
Though being overly polite to a robot sounds foolish, it is not completely for the machine’s sake. Perhaps, it is also about preserving our own communication standards in an increasingly automated world. If good manners are normalized from the get-go, our behaviors can bleed into many other aspects of our lives.
Just like you should treat others the way you want to be treated, the same concept goes when talking to a robot. Next time you open a chatbot or digital assistant, pause for a moment and consider how you want to approach it. Ask yourself: How can I be kinder? What is the voice I want to set?
If we want to rely on AI for generations to come, building respectful habits now is the first important step to this era. Because how we speak to machines today will define how we interact with each other tomorrow.
