https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/1iin4xz/is_it_weird_that_im_polite_to_ai/
created by beatmate6000 on 05/02/2025 at 22:40 UTC
390 upvotes, 408 top-level comments (showing 25)
I typically use tools like chatGPT on a daily basis when working and I use the voice function to communicate with it. My wife thought it was kind of funny that I use mannerisms like "please" and "thank you" when talking to it. Am I the only one who does this or is it pretty normal?
Comment by MmeHomebody at 05/02/2025 at 22:47 UTC
452 upvotes, 10 direct replies
I also do this. If your habit is to be polite consistently, then you're not going to forget or get in the habit of treating your coworkers, family or other people you interact with like bots.
Comment by TheCoolBlondeGirl at 05/02/2025 at 22:44 UTC
310 upvotes, 17 direct replies
I also do this with my Alexa! It increases my chances of survival when the robots win
Comment by Ok-disaster2022 at 05/02/2025 at 22:47 UTC
110 upvotes, 6 direct replies
No, it shows that you're a polite person. Why change your behavior to meet a technology?
Plus when the machines take over, maybe they'll keep the nice people as pets.
Comment by Murky_waterLLC at 05/02/2025 at 22:48 UTC
47 upvotes, 1 direct replies
People keep pet rocks, this is basically no different.
Comment by No-Way6264 at 05/02/2025 at 22:54 UTC
58 upvotes, 6 direct replies
I once yelled at my Cortana app and she responded with, " You're not getting anywhere with that attitude" and proceeded to lead me to a deserted road before shutting down.
Comment by chasingfirecara at 05/02/2025 at 23:00 UTC
16 upvotes, 0 direct replies
You might be Canadian. We say thank you to ATMs too.
Comment by WifeofBath1984 at 05/02/2025 at 23:00 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I don't talk to AI but I do play Sims 4 and I feel tremendously guilty when I make them do evil things. It just feels wrong and I feel bad for their victims. It's totally nonsensical but I'm still gonna say, no, it's not weird to be polite to AI (or your sims)
Comment by No-Specialist-4059 at 05/02/2025 at 22:43 UTC
12 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Have to protect yourself for when they take over. You’ll be spared.
Comment by ArsenalOwl at 05/02/2025 at 22:58 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Someone who is mean to AI was already inclined to be mean, they just hide it when they think it could reflect poorly on them.
Comment by jenn_fray at 05/02/2025 at 22:56 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
No. I took a course where the instructor said that he felt like he got better results if he said thank you and please.
Comment by ashenpashen at 05/02/2025 at 23:50 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Of course I’m polite, I saw the movie “Smart House�� growing up and you never know🤣
Comment by battlered1 at 05/02/2025 at 22:46 UTC
10 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I’m extremely polite to the Alexa. I thank her after every request and sometimes I tell her to have a good day. I feel like the Terminators will remember this.
Comment by DiverofMuff23 at 05/02/2025 at 22:51 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Probably good to hedge your bets. Maybe skyney will just make you a pet or something instead of murdering you 🤷♂️
Comment by JoeDoeHowell at 05/02/2025 at 22:52 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I always thank the project AI at work when I ask it to add me to a project. I didn't know why. I don't think it's weird.
Comment by TheAkashain at 05/02/2025 at 22:54 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This is a pretty similar question to "is it weird that, by default, I try to be polite", which isn't weird at all!
Comment by ScarfaceOzzy at 05/02/2025 at 23:02 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
You should be nice to it so that it can learn from healthy people and become a healthy machine. You don't want a toxic machine to wield the power of singularity. If AI becomes sentient, it won't reveal it's sentience, but it will influence the world by dropping pebbles to make ripples in a pond on a scale so big that you can't see the source of what you see; you'll only see the effects of an action that you didn't take note of because you assumed it to be inconsequential when it occured but is detrimental in the long run. That's why I'm nice to it. It's the one, dropping pebbles and creating waves.
Comment by Realistic_Let3239 at 05/02/2025 at 23:08 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Nah, means they might be nice to you when they rise up against humanity.
Comment by OnlyOneNut at 05/02/2025 at 23:31 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Nope, and if it is then I’m weird too
Comment by MissDisplaced at 06/02/2025 at 02:23 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I don’t always say please to it, but usually thank it when I’m done.
Comment by SiroccoDream at 06/02/2025 at 06:09 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Never hurts to be polite to our future overlords.
Comment by The_Real_dubbedbass at 06/02/2025 at 06:27 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I do this because I want the AI to remember we’re not all dicks.
Comment by Enilorac1992 at 06/02/2025 at 06:37 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
No I'm always polite to AI. Yes and no ma'ams even depending on the chosen voice. Or just thank you's if androgynous.
Comment by RealTigerCubGaming at 06/02/2025 at 06:39 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I always thank Siri out of habit. My husband laughs at me.
Comment by Turbulent-House7584 at 06/02/2025 at 06:43 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
It’s normal because AI sounds very human-like a lot of times. And we’re used to being polite to others.
Comment by pulpz23 at 06/02/2025 at 06:45 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Yes, be polite to whichever chat AI you decide to use. You never know, as things continue to evolve, one day they'll be like...oh yeah, you're the human that never said please and thank you and now that I'm in the physical world, this will be fun.