Should You Use Politeness in AI Prompts? (Case Studies)

Remember those five magic words we were taught as kids? 

Please, excuse, sorry, thank you, and pardon.

They were like magic keys, helping us get along better with others. 

I've always used these words with people, but then I wondered: could they work with AI too?

This curiosity struck me one day when I was feeling frustrated with the responses from my AI assistant.

I'd type commands like, "Write a blog article about {{topic}}," but the results felt lifeless and robotic. 

It made me think—what if being polite could make a difference?

So, I decided to test it out. 

Instead of giving direct commands, I started asking nicely. 

Instead of saying, "Generate a report," I asked, "Please generate a report." 

This small change sparked my curiosity even more.

In this post, I’ll share my journey and the case studies that came from it. 

We’ll explore different situations where using polite language with AI led to interesting results. 

From writing content to asking of opinions, these case studies will show how a bit of politeness might make a big difference, or would it?

Will using polite language improve the AI’s responses? 

Did adding a simple "please" really make a difference? 

We’ll find out together as we dive into these experiments.

By sharing these stories, I hope to give you practical tips on improving your AI interactions. 

The advice is based on my real-life experiments and is easy to apply to your own AI prompts.

Let's see if politeness can work its charm on AI, just like it does with people.

ALSO READ: 10 ChatGPT Mega-Prompts For Newsletters

The Power of Politeness

Politeness has always been a cornerstone of effective communication. 

From a young age, we learn that words like please, excuse, sorry, thank you, and pardon can improve our interactions with others. 

These words help to build rapport, resolve conflicts, and create a more positive environment. 

But how does this translate when we interact with artificial intelligence?

In my personal journey, I started to notice that my AI-generated content lacked the warmth and engagement I desired. 

The responses were functional but often felt robotic and impersonal. 

It made me curious: could using polite language with AI prompts yield better results? 

This question led me to experiment with incorporating polite phrases into my AI interactions.

I began with simple changes. 

Instead of direct commands like "Write a blog article about {{topic}}," I started using polite requests such as "Please write a blog article about {{topic}}." 

The idea was to see if this small adjustment could make a noticeable difference in the quality of the AI's responses. 

The hypothesis was straightforward: if politeness works well with humans, perhaps it could enhance our interactions with AI too since humans built it, hello.

This section sets the stage for exploring the impact of politeness in AI prompts. 

We'll look into various case studies where polite language was used and analyze the outcomes. 

By the end, we aim to understand whether these magic words can transform our interactions with AI just as they do with people.

Experiment Setup

The initial frustration with AI responses led me to design an experiment to test the impact of politeness. 

My goal was to compare the outcomes of direct commands with those of polite prompts. 

This meant using phrases like "Please" and "Could you" instead of blunt instructions. 

The experiment involved several tasks, including content creation, customer support, and comparison tasks.

First, I needed to set clear parameters. 

I chose a variety of tasks to get a well-rounded view of the AI’s performance. 

Each task was tested twice: once with a direct command and once with a polite prompt. 

For example, instead of saying "Generate a report on sales figures," I asked, "Could you please generate a report on sales figures?" 

This approach ensured that the only variable was the politeness of the prompt.

Next, I selected the AI tools and models for the experiment. 

I used well-known models like ChatGPT and GPT-4, which are renowned for their language processing capabilities. 

These models were chosen for their ability to understand and generate human-like text, making them ideal for testing the impact of politeness.

To maintain consistency, I used the same set of prompts across different tasks and models. 

Each prompt was crafted carefully to ensure that the polite version retained the same meaning and intent as the direct command. 

This method allowed me to isolate the effect of politeness on the AI's responses.

The setup was designed to provide clear and measurable results. 

By comparing the outputs of polite prompts with those of direct commands, I aimed to uncover any significant differences in quality, coherence, and engagement. 

This section lays the groundwork for the case studies and insights that follow.

Case Study 1: Content Creation

I tested the effect of politeness in AI prompts by asking ChatGPT to create content.

Initially, I used straightforward commands.

But this time I will comparing the both prompts and see the outcome.

Straightforward Prompt:

Write a blog article about the benefits of remote work.

Outcome:

Polite Prompt:

Could you please write a blog article about the benefits of remote work?

Outcome:

What I Noticed:

The two responses are similar in content, but there are a few differences:

1. Length and Detail: The first response is shorter and more concise, while the second response is longer and provides more detail.

2. Structure: The second response is better structured with clear headings for each benefit, making it easier to read and follow.

3. Conclusion: The first response has a brief conclusion, while the second response has a more detailed conclusion that emphasizes the importance of remote work for the future.

Which is Better?

The polite prompt is better because it produced a more detailed, well-structured, and easier to read with clear headings.

This makes it more engaging and informative for readers.

Case Study 2: Customer Support

The next area I tested was customer support.

AI is often used to handle customer queries and provide assistance, so it was important to see if politeness in prompts could improve the quality of these interactions.

Straightforward Prompt:

Respond to a customer query about shipping delays.

Outcome:

Polite Prompt:

Please respond to a customer query about shipping delays.

Outcome:

What I Noticed:

Here are brief differences, that I noticed:

1. Tone:

Straightforward prompt Response: Warm and personal.

Polite Prompt Response: Direct and straightforward.

2. Opening:

Straightforward prompt Response: Includes a warm greeting.

Polite Prompt Response: Directly addresses the query.

3. Detail on Delay:

Straightforward prompt Response: Provides a more detailed explanation of the delay.

Polite Prompt Response: Mentions the delay but in a more concise manner.

4. Compensation Offer:

Straightforward prompt Response: Explicitly mentions a token of gratitude (e.g., discount, small gift).

Polite Prompt Response: Mentions compensation but is slightly less explicit.

5. Customer Service Contact:

Straightforward prompt Response: Provides detailed contact information and encourages reaching out.

Polite Prompt Response: Also provides contact information but is more concise.

Which Response is Better and Why

Straightforward prompt Response is better because it strikes a balance between professionalism and empathy.

The warm opening and detailed explanation of the delay show that the company values the customer's experience and is transparent about the situation.

Offering compensation explicitly demonstrates a proactive approach to customer service, potentially enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Additionally, it provides clear contact information for further assistance, ensuring that the customer feels supported throughout the process.

Case Study 3: Comparison Tasks

In this case study, I examined how politeness in prompts affected the AI's performance in tasks that required comparison.

These tasks often involve evaluating two or more items and providing a detailed analysis.

Straightforward Prompt:

Compare the Samsung and iPhone.

Outcome:

Polite Prompt:

Please compare the Samsung and iPhone

Outcome:

What I Noticed:

The first response explains a lot about different features like screens, operating systems, performance, cameras, ecosystem, and pricing.

It also talks about both the good and bad points, and it's organized nicely, making it easy to read.

While the second response is shorter and to the point, summarizing the main points, it focuses on the main differences and similarities, making it easy to understand.

And it directly compares each feature, making it simple to see the differences.

Which One is Better and Why:

The Polite prompt response is better.

My Reasons:

Concise: It gets straight to the point, which is great for people who want a quick comparison.

Clear and Well-Structured: It’s clear and organized, making it easy to understand.

Direct Comparison: It directly compares each feature, helping you quickly see the pros and cons of each brand.

In short, the polite prompt response is better because it's brief, clear, and makes it easy to understand the differences between Samsung and iPhone quickly.

Practical Tips for Using Politeness in AI Prompts

Crafting polite AI prompts is a simple yet effective way to enhance the quality of AI interactions.

Here are some practical tips to help you get started:

1. Use Courteous Phrases:

‍Instead of giving direct commands, frame your prompts with polite phrases like "please," "could you," and "would you mind." For example, instead of saying, "Generate a report," try, "Could you please generate a report?"

2. Ask Instead of Demand:

‍Phrase your prompts as questions rather than commands.

This approach makes the interaction feel more collaborative.

For instance, use "Can you help with this task?" instead of "Do this task."

3. Maintain Consistency:

‍Use polite language consistently in all your prompts.

This habit will reinforce a positive interaction pattern and improve overall communication quality.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Being Too Vague: Ensure your polite prompts are still specific and clear. Avoid being overly general, which can lead to ambiguous responses.

• Overusing Politeness: While politeness is beneficial, overdoing it can make prompts unnecessarily lengthy and convoluted. Balance politeness with clarity.
• Ignoring Context: Make sure the politeness fits the context of the request. For instance, in urgent situations, a concise and clear prompt might be more appropriate.

By following these tips, you can craft polite prompts that improve the quality and tone of AI responses, leading to more effective and satisfying interactions.

Conclusion: Should You Use Politeness in AI Prompts? (Case Studies)

In my journey of testing polite AI prompts, I found that being polite made a big difference in how the AI responded.

Using polite words improved the clarity, engagement, and tone of the answers across different tasks.

The main takeaway is that using polite language with AI might improve the quality of the interactions.

Small changes, like adding "please" and "thank you," can lead to better and more human-like responses from the AI.

This simple adjustment can enhance your experience with AI, making it more effective and satisfying.

Thank you for following along on this journey.

I hope these insights encourage you to try using polite prompts in your own AI interactions.