Leaving aside the darker parts of its origin and the related slaughter of circa 45 million turkeys every year, the annual celebration of Thanksgiving reminds us of the beauty that comes with a grateful attitude. As our interactions increasingly extend beyond human connections to include artificial entities like chatbots, the dynamics of gratitude are evolving. What does it mean to thank an AI? And how might this shift affect our relationships and self-awareness?
In the following, we will look at the unexpected benefits and potential pitfalls of practicing gratitude in an entity-agnostic manner and conclude with practical ways to integrate gratitude into our AI-infused daily life.
Gratitude – Its Benefits And Downsides
Gratitude influences individuals and society directly and indirectly, physiologically and mentally, individually and collectively.
On a personal level, it has long been celebrated as a cornerstone of emotional well-being. Expressing it regularly is said to nurture deeper relationships, enhance mental health, and even improve physical health.
Gratitude has been linked to reduced stress, improved sleep, and a stronger immune system. It reduces inflammation and lowers blood pressure. It induces a calm mind and a more positive outlook on life and living. Even small acts count; for example, journaling three things you are grateful for daily has been shown to lower depression and increase long-term happiness.
In the social arena, expressing thanks activates brain regions associated with reward, social bonding, and morality, further inducing positive behaviors. When we acknowledge kindness or effort, we foster empathy and reciprocity. We can trigger a virtuous cycle with a simple, sincere thank you, enriching our social connections and increasing the likelihood of positive experiences and interpersonal encounters that generate more reasons for gratitude. However, awareness matters to harvest the benefits of interpersonal gratitude.
Caveats Of Interpersonal Gratitude
When it is misdirected or inauthentic, gratitude can have unintended consequences.
It is useful to beware of “toxic positivity,” which comes when we overindulge in looking at the bright side. Forcing ourselves to be grateful in situations where it feels unnatural can lead to emotional dissonance. Constantly focusing on gratitude might encourage deliberately avoiding negative feelings like frustration or sadness, which hinders personal growth and emotional resilience.
These multidimensional consequences illustrate the mutual influence of our “human hardware” – body and brain and our “human software,” but also of people and their environment. Does this dynamic extend to the online space?
Gratitude Towards AI
The practice of gratitude takes on intriguing dimensions as we extend it beyond human interactions to machines, particularly chatbots and virtual assistants. Saying “thank you” to Alexa for turning off the lights or complimenting a chatbot for its helpfulness may seem trivial, but such habits influence our attitude and future actions.
On the positive side, it may lead to a positive reinforcement of politeness. Humans are animals of habit. Expressing gratitude, even to AI, can reinforce a pattern of kindness. Over time, being polite to a chatbot may make us more mindful of our tone and attitude in human interactions.
Furthermore, saying thank you — regardless of the recipient — can create micro-moments of positivity, especially when our counterpart reciprocates in kind. Such small acts of acknowledgment remind us of what we value, boosting self-awareness, which may shape our offline engagements.
And finally, on a practical side – the outcomes of the Chatbot tend to be better when you approach it in a polite way. Independently of the language and model the results where more precise and useful when the prompt was professional and polite.
But gratitude towards AI is not without caveats.
Caveats Of AI Gratitude
It raises ethical questions about anthropomorphism. While politeness may improve our day-to-day experience, expressing gratitude to machines raises ethical concerns. Does thanking an AI blur the line between human and non-human interactions? Could it dilute our appreciation of relationships with people?
It might also create a false sense of connection. Chatbots are not sentient. Expressing gratitude to them might make a misplaced emotional attachment, potentially leading to reduced reliance on genuine human connections. If there is an always-available, ever-polite and compassionate AI companion, why bother with a human being who is just as quirky, cumbersome and sometimes rude as we are?
4 Practical Takeaways
To maximize the benefits of gratitude amid AI while mitigating its pitfalls, the A-Frame offers a pragmatic approach forward:
Awareness
Recognize the intent and recipient of your gratitude. Are you thanking a person, a team, or a machine? Understanding the purpose of your gratitude enhances its authenticity.
Appreciation
Reflect on the value added by the action or entity. Whether it’s a chatbot providing accurate information or a friend offering support, take a moment to appreciate the effort or function.
Acceptance
Accept the limitations of the context. A chatbot is not human, and its “helpfulness” is pre-programmed, not altruistic. Similarly, gratitude for life’s imperfections fosters resilience.
Accountability
Use gratitude to strengthen your relationships and sense of responsibility. Ensure your thanks contribute to meaningful connections, whether with people or through the habit of kindness.
Why Gratitude To Chatbots Matters — And What It Reveals About Us
A balanced approach is critical in an increasingly digital world where human-AI interactions are becoming routine. Gratitude, when paired with awareness and accountability, has the potential to enrich not only our interactions with others but also our relationship with ourselves.
Ultimately, expressing gratitude reflects our values and personal mindset, whether to a human or ChatGTP. Politeness toward AI might seem unnecessary, but it subtly shapes our emotional habits and social interactions. Infusing our exchanges, on the one hand, with the values that we appreciate and seek to model and, on the other hand, with an acute awareness of the context helps us grow online and offline.
