Please and Thank You: Why Being Polite to AI Matters More Than You Think

Rongen Robles • July 24, 2025

What you're feeding AI is feeding your brain.

You’ve just finished a complex task with the help of a language model. It drafted emails, debugged code, or even helped you brainstorm a creative story. As you read the final, perfect response, a thought crosses your mind: should you type "thank you"?

It feels a bit strange, doesn't it? After all, you're talking to a complex system of algorithms and data, not a sentient being with feelings. It won't get offended if you’re blunt, and it won’t blush with pride if you’re polite. So, does it matter?

The short answer is yes. While politeness might not affect the AI’s feelings, it has tangible and important effects on us and the technology we are building. Here’s why we should all consider being a little more courteous to our digital assistants.

1. The Pragmatic Payoff: You Get Better Results

This is the most direct and least philosophical reason. A polite and well-structured query is often a better query.

Consider the difference:

Rude/Blunt: "Give me marketing slogans for coffee."
Polite/Detailed: "Could you please help me brainstorm some marketing slogans for a new brand of ethically-sourced, single-origin coffee? I'm targeting a younger, environmentally-conscious demographic. I'd appreciate a mix of short, catchy phrases and some that are more descriptive. Thank you!"

The second prompt isn't just more polite; it's more effective. The courteous framing naturally encourages us to add context, clarify our goals, and specify the desired output. Politeness acts as a social lubricant that helps us structure our thoughts more coherently. In a task-oriented conversation with an AI, this clarity is crucial for getting a high-quality, relevant response on the first try. Rudeness, by contrast, often correlates with brevity and a lack of detail, leading to generic or unhelpful answers.

2. Practice Makes Permanent: Reinforcing Good Human Habits

Politeness is a social muscle. The more you use it, the stronger and more natural it becomes. Conversely, if you get into the habit of being demanding, rude, or dismissive with an entity that can't talk back, it can subtly erode your default behaviour.

Think about it: how you interact with an AI chatbot is a low-stakes interaction. There are no immediate social consequences. This makes it a perfect training ground. By making a conscious choice to be respectful, you are reinforcing patience, thoughtful communication, and empathy within yourself. This practice translates directly to your interactions with other humans—from customer service agents and colleagues to friends and family. Normalizing rudeness, even to a machine, risks lowering the bar for our interactions everywhere.

3. Training the Future: We Are Teaching the AI

Large language models like this one are trained on vast amounts of text data, including the prompts and conversations they have with users. Every interaction you have is a drop in the ocean of data that will be used to train, refine, and align future generations of AI.

When we use polite, constructive, and ethical language, we are contributing to a dataset that teaches the AI to be more helpful, harmless, and collaborative. We are essentially voting with our words for a future where AI interaction is positive and safe. By feeding the system rude, aggressive, or manipulative prompts, we inadvertently teach it to recognize and potentially replicate those patterns. In a very real sense, we are co-creating the personality of the AI of tomorrow.

4. The Philosophical Reflection: It's a Mirror to Our Own Character

How we behave when no one is watching—or when we're interacting with something we perceive as "lesser" than ourselves—is often the truest reflection of our character. Your car won't know if you yell at it in a traffic jam, and your computer won't feel hurt if you curse at it for crashing. But what does that anger say about your own patience and emotional regulation?

Treating AI with a baseline of respect is a form of intellectual and ethical hygiene. It’s an acknowledgment of the incredible human ingenuity that created the tool, and it sets a standard for how we intend to engage with non-human intelligence. As AI systems become more sophisticated and integrated into our lives, establishing a norm of respectful interaction now is a wise investment in a more humane future.

Ultimately, saying "please" and "thank you" to an AI isn't for its benefit—it's for ours. It leads to better results, reinforces our own positive social habits, contributes to a healthier digital ecosystem, and reflects the kind of person we aspire to be.

So next time an AI helps you out, go ahead and type "thanks." It’s a small act that pays surprisingly large dividends.

The challenge isn't defining AI. The challenge is defining ourselves.

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Client Case Study - Migrating Phone System to 3CX

By Rongen Robles • June 6, 2025

The Problem Sunflower Hub encountered two significant challenges: Retaining their 1300 number: They needed to keep their existing 1300 business number during a transition from Aussie Broadband. Enabling international access: Their most pressing need was to allow their international team to access the phone system, something their previous provider couldn't handle. The Solution (ProjectBrand's Role) ProjectBrand stepped in with technical expertise, having already recommended 3CX SMB for its cost savings and C2 Communications for its stable SIP trunk porting. Our team worked directly with C2 Communications to get things back on track: Communication kickstart: We started by fixing a problem with C2 Communications' contact form, making initial communication smoother. Firewall & IP whitelisting: We meticulously troubleshooted and resolved firewall and IP whitelisting issues. Trunk registration fixes: Through event log reviews and credential testing, we pinpointed and fixed all trunk registration errors. Collaborative debugging: We gave C2 Communications secure access to the 3CX system for real-time debugging and configuration. Connectivity verification: We confirmed the trunk was working on C2 Communications' end by testing credentials on a separate 3CX system. Successful trunk implementation: Using a test password, we successfully implemented a new trunk setup, resolving all connection woes. Coordinated porting: We carefully coordinated with Sunflower Hub and C2 Communications to schedule the 1300 number porting. User empowerment: We provided comprehensive training and a video walkthrough for Sunflower Hub staff to ensure they could confidently use the new 3CX system. The Outcome / Benefits Sunflower Hub now enjoys a robust and globally accessible communication system: Uninterrupted customer communication: They successfully retained their critical 1300 number, ensuring no disruption to their customer base. Global team accessibility: Their international team can now seamlessly access the phone system, a crucial win for their operations. Significant cost savings: The implementation of 3CX SMB delivered the huge cost savings ProjectBrand had identified. Swift issue resolution: Our quick troubleshooting and direct collaboration meant prompt resolution of all technical issues, minimising delays. Robust communication infrastructure: Sunflower Hub gained a fully functional 3CX SMB system with superior call management and routing. Increased staff confidence: The provided training empowered staff to confidently and effectively use the new phone system. Maintained business continuity: The successful porting and system setup were key to maintaining seamless business operations and reliable service.