Sunny State Dispositions: Exploring Florida’s Polite Approach to AI Interaction

By  //  December 12, 2024

The growing prevalence of human-machine interactions, particularly with the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in technology, demands an important discussion on the potential implications of engaging in interpersonal interactions with AI.

As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, one notable trend that has emerged is the level of politeness humans interact with it. Interestingly, Florida stands out as one of the states where people are particularly polite when communicating with AI. 

In this article, we will explore the nuances of why politeness to AI matters, how Florida has become a leader in polite AI interactions, and the reason behind the politeness trend. 

Why Does AI Politeness Matter?

Politeness is a behaviour seen as socially correct showing an understanding and care for other people’s feelings. This behaviour is developed in all cultures to facilitate efficient interactions between individuals. 

In most societies, politeness is often expressed through language as it is the easiest form of communication where emotions and intent can be easily understood. Of course, politeness varies in different cultures and being polite in one area may be rude in another. For human interactions, being polite is important. However, for human to AI technology, people may see it as pointless as it is powered by algorithms and do not have feelings to understand it. 

Studies indicate that politeness in human interactions offers functional benefits. Therefore, it is only proper to assume that treating AI with politeness—given that these systems and technologies are trained on human behavior—could also yield positive outcomes. An expert provides that the politeness towards AI may reflect how we value and respect non-human entities and we become the model of the sort of behaviour we wish to see in the world. 

Polite AI Interactions in: New Mexico, Maryland, and Florida

Finding strength in the study suggesting politeness to AI, it is interesting to learn that there are people who practice polite behaviour either through habit or conscious behaviour.  

Accordingly, a survey conducted by Preply, a language learning platform providing Spanish classes online, shows that the states that are the nicest to AI are New Mexico, Maryland, and surprisingly, Florida. Considering the stereotype most people have against Floridians, it is surprising to know that they have been recognized to use polite dialogue with the AI technology.

Of course, politeness can differ significantly from one individual to another. What one person perceives as rudeness might merely be a matter of directness. For instance, Spaniards often communicate in a straightforward manner, which some may interpret as impolite. 

Applying this information, we can gain insights into why Florida is regarded as one of the most polite states to AI. It demonstrates that stereotypes often fail to capture the complexities of individual behaviour and cultural context. 

Politeness Trends to AI across the United States

Aside from New Mexico, Maryland, and Florida, it is also surprising to learn that a growing number of Americans believe in being nice to AI chatbots and virtual assistants such as Alexa and Siri. 

According to the study, 82% of Americans say that they have adopted a “polite manner” when interacting with “robots of some kind”. When asked as to their motivations of being polite, respondents claimed that it was just “their way” of being. Additional studies also concur that this polite manner is often adopted as most people felt that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, human or not.   

Surprisingly, science backs this polite behaviour. An expert elaborated that this polite behaviour may be advantageous to humans, as it promotes clarity and efficiency—qualities we anticipate when engaging with AI machines. This expert provides that when people are polite to AI, we are training it to be more detailed and understandable thereby allowing us to receive helpful responses from it. 

Final Thoughts: Is Florida Truly the Sunny State for AI Interactions?

Florida ranking higher among most states in communicating politely with AI highlights the broad cultural and social influences on people’s usage with technology. 

As AI continues to evolve, understanding these interactions becomes increasingly important. While the habit of politeness may primarily be subconscious, it reflects a deeper human inclination towards respectful communication. The more polite people are towards AI, the more we cultivate a supportive environment for technological evolution.  

By promoting polite behaviours, we can help ensure that the future of human-AI interaction is one characterized by warmth, kindness, and respect.