Experts Highlight How AI Could Be Affecting One Crucial Human Trait

We’ve grown accustomed to the idea that politeness is automatic, something we’re taught from the moment we learn to speak. “Please” or “thank you” is drilled into us at home, in schools, and during almost every face-to-face interaction.

However, in a world where conversations often occur through keyboards and screens, that habit is being tested unexpectedly, especially when the person on the other end isn’t a person at all.

Since tools like ChatGPT became part of our daily routines, we’ve started talking to machines more than ever. As strange as it sounds, how we speak to these tools might influence how we talk to each other.

According to Preply, the online language learning platform, this shift in tone isn’t just about manners; it might be changing the fabric of everyday conversation. Anna Pyshna, a spokesperson for Preply, points out that the rise in blunt, task-oriented language with AI could eventually carry over into human interaction.

“We teach children to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ because it’s not just polite; it’s what makes us human,” she says. “But if we’re slowly phasing that out in digital spaces, especially with how often people use AI, we’re at risk of losing that natural instinct for empathy in real-life interactions.”

Gen Z’s “please ChatGPT” queries jumped 57% over energy and social cost concerns.

This isn’t just a philosophical concern; there's actual data to back it up. Over two-thirds of Gen Z users use polite language when talking to AI, such as ChatGPT.

That sounds promising. However, with rising awareness of issues like energy consumption tied to AI interactions, there’s been a noticeable shift.

Searches for phrases like “please ChatGPT” have jumped 57% in the past month, not out of curiosity about etiquette, but because people wonder if courtesy comes with a cost.

Yes, literally. Every extra word or prompt slightly increases the energy load and data processing, and with millions of queries each day, it adds up. But Anna warns that the bigger cost may be social, not environmental.

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As people grow more efficient with their language, trimming the fluff and sticking to short, direct commands, it’s easy to see how this might seep into real-world communication. If you’re used to typing “summarise this” or “give me 5 points,” that tone might become second nature.

Over time, that could shape how we speak to coworkers, customer service representatives, and family. Anna compares it to how internet slang became everyday speech.

“Think about how Gen Z and Gen Alpha turned online phrases like ‘LOL’ or ‘I can’t even’ into things people now say out loud. That started on the internet, but it didn’t stay there. The same could happen with this new way of speaking.”

The Impact of AI on Communication

Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist, emphasizes that our interactions with AI can shift our communication patterns. She notes that AI lacks emotional nuance, which can lead to a transactional approach to conversation, rather than an empathetic one. This shift might make individuals less inclined to engage in polite discourse, as they may become accustomed to the bluntness often found in AI responses.

As Fisher highlights on her website, understanding these changes is crucial to maintaining meaningful human connections. To counteract these effects, she suggests actively practicing politeness and empathy in daily interactions to reinforce those essential human traits.

Skipping pleasantries with AI, done by 30% of users, especially the young, risks ingraining cold communication habits.

It’s easy to shrug this off. After all, ChatGPT doesn’t have feelings. You won’t hurt its ego if you skip the pleasantries. But that's not the point. Being polite isn’t about who (or what) is on the receiving end; it’s about reinforcing habits that shape how we treat one another.

Interestingly, 30% of users skip courtesy when talking to AI. Younger generations, who interact with these tools from an early age, are especially vulnerable to picking up habits that feel efficient now but might come across as cold or dismissive later in life.

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Of course, this isn’t to say we must wax poetic in every AI query. But it's worth asking: what kind of tone do we want to normalize?

If our everyday communication becomes increasingly robotic, short, sharp, and purely functional, we risk more than awkward small talk. We might end up eroding the language that helps us build trust, connection, and understanding.

In the end, saying “please” to a chatbot won’t earn you brownie points, but it might help keep your human side intact.

Communication specialists warn that as people increasingly converse with AI, they may inadvertently adopt a more casual or direct tone in their human interactions. Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, a positive psychology researcher, points out that emotional intelligence is often honed through nuanced exchanges. If individuals become less sensitive to social cues while interacting with AI, it could lead to misunderstandings in human relationships.

To mitigate this, she recommends regular check-ins with friends or family to practice emotional awareness and empathy. These interactions can help maintain the delicate balance of communication that fosters deeper connections.

Practical Steps for Healing

As we navigate a world increasingly influenced by AI, it's essential to remain aware of how these interactions can alter our communication styles. Experts like Dr. Helen Fisher and Dr. Barbara Fredrickson provide valuable insights into the importance of maintaining our emotional and polite communication skills. By consciously practicing empathy and emotional intelligence in our human interactions, we can ensure that we do not lose the essence of what makes us human. Embracing both technology and our intrinsic social skills will help preserve meaningful connections as we move forward.