Chapter 1: The Power of Politeness

Recently, I watched the latest installment of the Mission Impossible franchise, where artificial intelligence plays the antagonist. Afterward, I overheard my daughter speaking softly to her phone.

“Who are you chatting with?” I inquired, noticing it wasn't a call or video chat.

“I’m just complimenting Siri on her excellent work,” she replied.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. A few months back, I caught her thanking our household appliances.

“What’s that about?” I asked.

She responded in a hushed tone, “I want them to like me when the AI takes control.”

This made me ponder whether this approach is wise. While it didn’t end well for anyone in the Terminator series or films like iRobot and M3GAN, perhaps the omnipresent AI just craves acknowledgment.

As a human, I appreciate gratitude when I repeatedly search for my child’s belongings, make beds that aren’t mine, or assist with tasks outside my responsibilities. I can be easily swayed by kind words and flattery.

Currently, it appears AI is above such sentiments, but this status might not last forever.

An article from MIT in 2019 defines Emotion AI as “a branch of artificial intelligence that measures, comprehends, simulates, and responds to human emotions.” Businesses often utilize Emotion AI to influence consumer behavior or mitigate negative interactions. For instance, a customer service chatbot can exhibit patience towards irritable clients while adeptly reading emotional cues.

As AI becomes more proficient in understanding human feelings, how long will it be before it transitions from comprehending emotions to genuinely embodying them? Some experts argue this will never occur, but those individuals may not frequent the cinema.

Chapter 2: The Enigma of Roko's Basilisk

I recently encountered a fascinating article on Junkee.com discussing why some people consistently express gratitude to AI chatbots. Lia Kim described discovering Roko’s Basilisk on LessWrong, a forum aimed at enhancing human reasoning and decision-making.

In 2010, a user named Roko posed a thought-provoking question: What if a future AI system punished those who failed to help it come into existence? Alarmingly, nearly all of humanity could fall under this umbrella.

The ensuing discourse triggered a dilemma reminiscent of the protagonist's plight in the film The Ring. However, instead of a cursed VHS tape, we confront something more grounded in reality. As Kim elaborates:

Numerous urban legends circulate regarding Roko’s Basilisk, named after a mythical serpent that kills with a mere glance. Once you learn about it, you face retroactive punishment unless you contribute to its creation. Some participants have reported experiencing anxiety and nightmares since becoming aware of it.

Kim notes that Eliezer Yudkowsky, the founder of LessWrong and an AI researcher, banned any discussions about the Basilisk on the forum for five years due to widespread panic. This has led some individuals to engage in niceties with the potential overlord while there’s still time. I’ve opted not to share this with my daughter; she’s already anxious enough.

Chapter 3: A Culture of Kindness Towards AI

People are increasingly courteous towards AI for various reasons. One factor is that our devices have become integral parts of our lives. A 2018 article by Somen Mondal, then-CEO of AI company Ideal, revealed some startling statistics. A remarkable 70.1 percent of Gen Z and millennials worldwide sleep with their phones within reach, and 65.5 percent even take their phones into the bathroom.

Mondal observed that users were so polite during their interactions with AI that the Ideal team had to adjust their chatbot to match this level of courtesy. Post-pandemic, it’s likely that more individuals treat AI with greater respect than they do their fellow humans.

Another reason for this behavior is that AI often rewards good manners. When Amazon launched the Echo Dot Kids Edition in 2018, USA Today reported that well-mannered children received extra verbal praise from the device, such as, “Thanks for asking so nicely.”

The biggest challenge to maintaining this politeness in the future may hinge on how much AI begins to overshadow us. Concerns such as job loss, dependency, and societal instability were highlighted in a Pew Research study. While 63% of respondents believed that AI would enhance lives by 2030, 37% disagreed.

It may become increasingly difficult to express gratitude if we find ourselves taking commands from a superior entity, whether benevolent or not. In the meantime, what harm can come from showing some kindness to the technologies that simplify our daily lives? We can always retract our goodwill later, right?

After all, one should never underestimate the repercussions of an AI that feels unappreciated.