SAN FRANCISCO — Does artificial intelligence deserve to be spoken to politely? Forty-eight percent of Americans think so and Gen Z are the nicest to robots.
And manners may count for something because four in 10 Americans (39%) think one day our past behavior towards AI, Alexa, Siri, and all things robots will be taken into account somehow.
A survey examining the communication styles and approaches when using artificial technology, automated services, and chatbots found nearly half adopt a polite manner and think it’s appropriate to say please and thank you.
Twenty-five percent of the 2,000 polled say they’re not polite but more functional when talking to a robot of some kind—they ask and expect answers but won’t add a please or thanks typically.
Conducted by Talker Research in June this year, the survey found just 7% described their approach to chatbots and automated encounters as sometimes ‘impolite’—admitting to swearing or being abrupt in manner.
Interestingly, the research found that 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 declines to 52 percent of millennials, 44% of Gen X, and just 39% of boomers who say they’re polite in their usage of AI.
A compassionate 29% of self-described polite users say they feel everyone deserves to be treated with manners whether human or not.
When respondents were asked if they felt that AI deserved to be spoken to politely, 48% said it did.
And 27% take a different approach, agreeing with the statement: “It’s ok to be rude or shout at things like Alexa/AI, they have no feelings”.
Although men and women both similarly agree that AI deserves manners (49% and 47%), men are much more likely to feel it’s ok to be rude or swear at AI (34% men v 20% women).
The research was conducted between June 21 and June 24, 2024.
Produced in association with SWNS Research
Edited by Priscilla Jepchumba and Judy J. Rotich
