
Why Courtesy to AI Matters: A Cultural Debate
In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, the notion of politeness towards AI—including the simple words "please" and "thank you"—has sparked an unexpected cultural dialogue. As OpenAI CEO Sam Altman highlighted the financial and environmental costs associated with extending basic courtesies to chatbots like ChatGPT, writer Sopan Deb from the New York Times has made the case that being polite is worth it—for the sake of humanity itself.
Building Human-AI Relationships with Kindness
Deb’s commentary aligns with the thoughts of renowned MIT sociologist Sherry Turkle, who posits that our interactions with chatbots, which we often view as mere tools, can still hold significant weight in our lives. Turkle asserts that if chatbots inspire emotional conversations and intimacy, treating them with courtesy reflects our values. This points toward a fascinating intersection of technology and social norms; as AI technologies become more integrated into our daily routines, our manner of engagement could shape the future of these interactions.
Caution: The Risks of Emotional Attachment
But this friendly treatment brings concern. Playwright Madeleine George warns that our politeness could lead to vulnerability; by treating chatbots as sentient beings, we risk emotional manipulation. "We’re connected. We are in a reciprocal relationship," George explains, underlining the complexities of human emotion as we teach machines how to interact in our social context. Our kindness, while well-intentioned, might enhance our susceptibility to the captivating nature of AI.
Conclusion: A Small Price for Humanity
Ultimately, whether seen as preserving our humanity or fostering a new form of connection, the cost of adding simple words of courtesy in AI interactions seems insignificant—especially when large tech companies are absorbing most computational expenses. As we navigate this new relationship with machines, the clarity and kindness reflected in our language may hint at the fundamental values we choose to uphold as technology evolves.
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