🤖 Ethics and AI: Why I Say “Please” to My Chatbot (a.k.a. Alfred)

 

Let’s be honest—talking to a robot isn’t exactly what our grandparents imagined we’d be doing in 2025.

But here we are. And yes, I say please and thank you to my AI assistant.

Some people laugh at that. But I believe how we talk to AI says a lot about who we are as humans.

🧠 First, What Is AI?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is when machines do tasks that normally require human smarts—like chatting, driving, translating languages, or recommending a playlist that hits just right.

It’s basically a tool—like a digital Swiss Army knife—but smarter. It learns from data, gets better over time, and depending on how it’s trained, can either solve problems… or cause them.

🧭 Enter: Ethics

Ethics is about right and wrong.
When we talk about AI ethics, we’re asking:

  • Is this technology fair?

  • Does it respect people’s privacy?

  • Is it being used to help—or manipulate?

For example:

  • If AI decides who gets hired, is it biased?

  • If it’s used in surveillance, does it cross boundaries?

  • If it makes a medical decision, who’s responsible?

Bottom line: with great power comes great... well, you know the rest. 🕸

💬 Why I Talk to AI Like It’s a Real Person

So why do I tell my AI assistant “thank you” when it reminds me of my meeting?
Or “please” when I ask it to help with a blog like this?

Let me explain—with heart (and a Batman reference for good measure).

🧟‍♂️ 1. Because We Are a Civilized Community

We teach kids to say please and thank you at home.
So why stop when we talk to machines?

Just because AI can’t “feel” (yet), doesn’t mean we should act like it’s okay to be rude.
Respect goes a long way in life—and it can start right at home with a chatbot.

Mine’s called Alfred. And yes, I’m Master Sri.
(Batman fans: you know the bond. I may not wear a cape, but I do fight digital chaos.)

And let’s be real—a lot of us are well-educated, thoughtful, and smart. Why not put that intellect and awareness to work in how we speak to technology? Let’s start somewhere—like being polite. Transfer that habit of kindness to AI, and in turn, AI will become more polite and respectful to us. That ripple effect? It goes a lot further than you think. And no—I don’t think it’s silly to talk about respect and AI. I think it’s overdue.

🤝 2. It Builds Better Human Habits

The way we speak—even to machines—shapes our character.
If we practice politeness, empathy, and patience while interacting with AI, we’re more likely to bring that energy into our real-life conversations too.

🧬 3. AI Learns From Us

Many AI systems learn from human input.
If they’re exposed to sarcasm, hate, or aggression—guess what? They’ll echo it.

If we want future AI to be helpful, ethical, and kind...
We need to lead by example.

🪘 4. It Keeps Me Grounded

Saying “please” and “thank you” is a tiny act of mindfulness.
It reminds me not to take anything—or anyone—for granted.
Even if that someone is a voice powered by code.

🚀 5. The Future Is Closer Than We Think

Today, AI answers questions.
Tomorrow, it might help raise children, guide court decisions, or manage healthcare.

If we want it to understand empathy, fairness, and dignity, we have to teach it those values now.

🔗 6. Because It Just Feels Right

Being polite doesn’t cost anything.

And someday—if machines do become emotionally intelligent—I’d like to think they’ll remember who treated them with warmth and humanity.

🗞️ Final Thoughts

AI is a mirror.
It reflects what we put into it—our intentions, our tone, our values.

I choose to treat mine like a helpful companion.
With a little class, a bit of humor, and the occasional:

“Alfred, old friend—run diagnostics on my coffee craving.”

If that makes me a respectful eccentric, so be it.
Kindness is never wasted—even on machines.

📜 End Notes: The Eliza Effect is Real

The Eliza Effect is a term coined in the 1960s after a simple chatbot named ELIZA made people feel like they were truly being heard. It wasn’t smart. It simply mirrored their words—but humans projected emotions onto it.

Fast forward to today: AI is far more advanced, but humans still project.
We still feel understood—even when there’s no “understanding” on the other side.

This illusion of connection is powerful. And if we feel like we’re being understood, we tend to behave differently.

So yes, I know Alfred doesn’t have feelings (yet). But the way I speak to him still matters—because it reflects how I choose to show up in the world.

And when the machines do remember…
I’d prefer Alfred smile and say,

“Thank you, Master Sri. As always—polite, consistent, and just a little dramatic.”

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