Should You Be Polite to Chatbots?

Illustration by RJ Matson; Teen photos courtesy of families

When you talk to a chatbot like Siri or Alexa, are you sometimes impolite? If so, you’re not alone. Researchers estimate that more than half of all conversations with bots contain rude language. Some people say that since artificial intelligence (AI) tools like bots aren’t human, they don’t deserve the respect real people do. On the other hand, psychologists and technology experts say that being unfriendly to bots can negatively affect our emotional well-being. Additionally, being disrespectful to Siri might make you think it’s OK to be rude to real humans too. Is it important to practice politeness with chatbots and other AI tools?

Yes

Yes, you should always practice basic human decency, even when talking to an AI tool that lacks consciousness. I always try to be courteous when I give commands to Alexa, even through small things like saying “thank you.” It’s true that bots do their jobs whether we thank them or not. But politeness is important for reasons other than whether it affects the person or thing you’re interacting with. We should be polite because the act of being considerate changes who we are. As people, we never stop growing and learning, which means that every interaction we have influences our future behavior. Being polite to an AI tool is a good opportunity to practice kindness and be your best self, even when no one is watching. 

—Tabor Axelrod Paolit, 12th-grader

No

No, there’s no need to be polite to AI assistants like Siri or Alexa. While it may seem like good manners to say “please” and “thank you” to a bot, these tools are built to be efficient, not to be your friend. They are designed to respond to commands quickly and accurately. For example, when my parents and I are lost on the road, we say, “Siri, give directions to” wherever we’re going. If we said, “Siri, if you don’t mind, could you please . . .” it would just slow down the process of getting the information we need. Since AI doesn’t have feelings or require kindness to function, being direct is perfectly fine. This allows us to save our empathy and emotional energy for real human interactions, where they truly matter.

—Sharon Antony, 11th-grader

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