Do you say “please” and “thank you” to AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini? It turns out, most people do.
A recent poll I conducted on LinkedIn revealed that 90% of respondents use polite language when interacting with AI, despite knowing that these tools don’t require it to function. The discussion in the comments was even more fascinating, with opinions ranging from humorous self-preservation to reflections on human nature and communication habits.
One commenter joked:
➡️ “Always – it will remember who was polite and nice when it goes full Skynet.”
Another took a more philosophical approach:
➡️ “The quality of my synthetic (carbon) relationships should be on par with my organic.”
And of course, there was a mix of pragmatism and caution:
➡️ “It might be a habit haha, but would rather be safe just in case ChatGPT goes rogue.”
But is there any real reason to be polite to AI? After all, AI doesn’t feel respect. ChatGPT itself even told one user:
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s a big deal. Some people do it out of habit or to humanize the interaction, while others see it as unnecessary. Neither approach is wrong—it’s just a matter of perspective.”
The Psychology Behind AI Politeness
So why do most people still default to courtesy? The responses suggest a few possible explanations:
🔹 Habit: We’re conditioned to use polite language in interactions, whether digital or human.
🔹 Humanizing AI: Saying “please” and “thank you” makes the interaction feel more natural.
🔹 Social Norms: Some see AI as an extension of their social world and treat it accordingly.
🔹 Future-Proofing: Joking or not, some wonder if AI might “remember” how we treated it.
The Data Behind the Votes
This wasn’t just a small poll—it received over 100 votes and 39,271 impressions, with participation across various industries and job roles.
Who Participated?
🔹 Industry Breakdown:
- Gambling Facilities & Casinos: 28.1%
- IT Services & Consulting: 11%
- Advertising Services: 5.8%
- Financial Services: 5.5%
- Software Development: 5.4%
🔹 Company Size:
- 51-200 employees: 18.1%
- 11-50 employees: 17.7%
- 1-10 employees: 12%
- 1001-5000 employees: 11.6%
- 201-500 employees: 9.5%
🔹 Seniority Level:
- Senior: 28.3%
- Director: 17.4%
- Entry Level: 17%
- CXO: 9.1%
- Manager: 8.6%
Final Thoughts: Does It Matter?
While AI won’t judge us for being polite (yet), the way we speak to machines may reflect deeper aspects of our psychology and values. Whether out of habit, humor, or principle, using courteous language with AI might just be another way we reinforce our own humanity—even in digital spaces.
So, do you say “please” and “thank you” to AI? And more importantly… should you?
