Do You Have to Be Polite to AI?
Monday, 2026/03/02145 words2 minutes632 reads
Over half of Americans say "please" when talking to smart speakers, and 70% are polite to AI chatbots. Some believe politeness improves AI responses, while others think threats or flattery work better. But research shows these strategies don't consistently help.
Researchers tested various approaches, including compliments, encouragement, and even role-playing scenarios like Star Trek. Results were inconsistent. One study found politeness improved accuracy, while another found insults worked better. Experts explain that AI companies constantly update their systems, making old research quickly outdated.
The key insight is that AI isn't a person—it's a tool simulating human behavior. Modern AI models are better at identifying important parts of your request, regardless of politeness. However, being courteous might make you more comfortable using AI, and it maintains good habits for human interactions. As philosopher Immanuel Kant suggested, treating anything harshly can make you a harsher person overall.
