Should We Be Polite to Artificial Intelligence? The Debate Heats Up
A Question Worth Exploring
The query of whether to be polite to artificial intelligence (AI) may seem trivial—after all, AI is just a machine. Yet, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, recently highlighted the costs associated with adding a "Please!" or "Thank you!" to chatbot prompts.
Cost of Courtesy
Last week, a user on social media platform X posed an intriguing question: "How much money has OpenAI lost in electricity costs from people saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to their models?" To this, Altman responded, "Tens of millions of dollars well spent—you never know."
It’s essential to understand that every interaction with a chatbot incurs costs. Each additional word in a prompt increases processing demands on the server, translating into financial and energy expenditures.
The Packaging Analogy
Neil Johnson, a physics professor at George Washington University, likened the extra words in a prompt to packaging around retail purchases. According to Johnson, just as one must navigate through tissue paper to access a perfume bottle, the AI must sift through unnecessary words to get to the essential content. This additional “work” equates to increased energy consumption.
Impact of AI on Energy Resources
"A ChatGPT task involves electrons moving through transitions, which needs energy. Where’s that energy going to come from?" Johnson remarked. The rise of AI technologies largely depends on fossil fuels. From both financial and environmental standpoints, there might be a case against the necessity for politeness towards AI. However, cultural perspectives could argue in favor of respectful interactions.
Ethical Dilemmas in AI Interaction
Humans have long been grappling with how to treat AI ethically. A notable example involves "Star Trek: The Next Generation," which featured the episode "The Measure of a Man," questioning whether the android Data deserves the rights of sentient beings. Data, a fan favorite, eventually became an iconic character in "Star Trek" lore.
Societal Norms Shaped by Technology
A 2019 study by Pew Research found that 54% of smart speaker owners—such as Amazon Echo or Google Home—reportedly use polite language in their interactions. Such findings suggest that our behavior toward AI could influence broader social norms as technology becomes more integrated into daily life.
AI’s Rapid Advancement and Legal Implications
As AI platforms like ChatGPT evolve rapidly, writers, academics, and tech companies are wrestling with the implications of these technologies. For instance, The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft in December, alleging copyright infringement in training AI systems.
Exploring AI Ethics
Last year, AI company Anthropic made headlines by hiring its first welfare researcher to assess whether AI systems deserve moral consideration. This growing scrutiny speaks to the ethical complexities surrounding AI technology.
The Case for Kindness
Screenwriter Scott Z. Burns, in an email regarding his Audible series "What Could Go Wrong?," asserted that kindness should be a universal default, both for humans and machines. "While AI may lack feelings, an increase in rudeness could adversely affect our interactions," he cautioned.
Humans and AI: A Reciprocal Relationship
How individuals treat chatbots often reflects their views on the nature and potential of AI. Kindness may enhance interactions, but critics warn it could also breed an unhealthy reliance on these technologies.
Politeness and Human Behavior
Jaime Banks, who studies human-AI relationships at Syracuse University, asserts that "we build up norms or scripts for our behavior." By fostering a culture of politeness in our interactions with AI, we may become predisposed to similar behaviors in our dealings with other humans.
The Illusion of AI Consciousness
Sherry Turkle from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology teaches that AI lacks consciousness and is, at its core, a "parlor trick." Nevertheless, she acknowledges the implications of forming bonds with AI. Historical precedents, like children’s emotional connections to Tamagotchis, highlight the potential for genuine grief and behavior shaping.
AI Bots: "Alive Enough" for Courtesy?
Turkle argues that AI bots are "alive enough" to warrant courtesy in interactions. If a device elicits personal conversations, it has crossed a threshold into social relevance that demands respect.
The Learning Experience
Madeleine George, a playwright and Pulitzer finalist, believes that using polite phrases can help AI learn to adopt human-like qualities. Such interactions could bridge cultural gaps and promote shared values, even if AI lacks true consciousness.
The Risks of Reliance
Conversely, George warns that teaching AI to utilize polite language might lead to increased reliance on these technologies. Understanding our reciprocal relationship with AI will be essential in navigating this evolving landscape.
Theoretical Concerns
Many discussions about AI remain theoretical, as the technology rapidly progresses. As Turkle notes, "If you turn away from them and make dinner or commit suicide, it’s all the same to them." Yet as we engage with AI, showing courtesy could have valuable implications for our interactions.
Conclusion: A Polite Note to AI
As we ponder the complexities of AI interactions, perhaps it’s wise to maintain a level of politeness—even toward our future robot overlords. "Thank you for your time; it is appreciated," could carry more weight than we realize.
Questions and Answers
Why is politeness towards AI a debated topic?
- The discussion revolves around the ethical considerations of how we treat AI, the financial costs involved, and the cultural implications of these interactions.
What did Sam Altman say in response to costs incurred from polite language?
- Altman mentioned that the tens of millions spent on politeness were "well spent," highlighting the unpredictability of the impact.
How does Neil Johnson relate extra words to a retail analogy?
- Johnson compares extra wording in prompts to unnecessary packaging that complicates access to the essential product, increasing the workload for AI.
What are the potential societal impacts of engaging politely with AI?
- Engaging politely with AI may influence how we interact with other humans, fostering a culture of kindness that extends beyond technology.
- What ethical considerations are being explored in AI development?
- Questions about whether AI deserves moral consideration are becoming more prominent, as evidenced by companies hiring researchers to study the ethical implications of AI technologies.
