Should we be kind to AI? Almost half of Americans think so

Does HE deserve to be spoken to politely? Forty-eight percent of Americans think so, and Gen Z is kinder to robots.

And behaviors may count for something because four in 10 Americans (39%) think that one day our past behavior toward AI, Alexa, Siri and all things robotic will be taken into account somehow.

A survey examining communication styles and approaches when using artificial technology, automated services and chatbots found that almost half of them adopt a polite manner and think it is appropriate to say please and thank you.

Twenty-five percent of the 2,000 respondents say they’re not polite, but more functional when talking to a robot of some kind — they ask and expect answers, but won’t usually add a prayer or thank you.

Conducted by Talker Research, the survey found that only 7% describe their approach to chatbots and automated dating as sometimes ‘indecent’—accepting profanity or unexpected behavior.

Interestingly, younger generations are much more likely to be polite when interacting with AI – more than half of Gen Z say this is their default style (56%).

Politeness falls to 52 percent of millennials, 44 percent of Gen Xers, and just 39 percent of young adults who say they are polite in their use of AI.

When those using behavioral AI and similar services were asked why they were more likely to say, “it’s just my way” (68%).

A compassionate 29% of self-described polite users say they think everyone deserves to be treated with manners, humane or otherwise.

When respondents were asked if they thought AI deserved to be spoken to politely, 48% said they did.

And 27% take a different approach, agreeing with the statement: “It’s okay to be rude or yell at things like Alexa/AI, they don’t have feelings.”

Although men and women similarly agree that AI deserves behavior (49% and 47%), men are much more likely to think it’s okay to be rude or insult AI (34% men vs. 20% women ).

THE AMERICAS AI APPROACH

• I am polite – I say hello, please and thank you and ask things nicely in general: 44%
• I’m not polite, but I’m to the point – I ask and expect an answer: 25%
• Sometimes I’m rude – I’ll swear or be abrupt with AI: 7%
• None of the above: 24%

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans. The poll was commissioned by Talker News and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between June 21 and June 24, 2024.