Leaving aside the darkest parts of his origin and the related massacre of approximately 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 evolve. What does it mean to thank an AI? And how might this change affect our relationships and our sense of self?

In the following, we will examine 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 lives.

Gratitude – its pros and cons

Gratitude influences individuals and society directly and indirectly, physiologically and mentally, individually and collectively.

On a personal level, it has long been celebrated as the cornerstone of emotional well-being. Expressing it regularly is said to nurture deeper relationships, improve mental health, and even improve physical health.

Gratitude has been linked to reduced stress, better sleep, and a stronger immune system. It reduces inflammation and lowers blood pressure. This induces a calm mind and more positive outlook about life and living. Even small acts count; for example, keeping a daily journal of three things you are grateful for has been shown to reduce depression and increase happiness in the long term.

In the social domain, expressing thanks activates regions of the brain associated with reward, social bonding and morality, inducing more positive behaviors. When we recognize kindness or effort, we promote 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 is important to reap the benefits of interpersonal gratitude.

Caveats About Interpersonal Gratitude

When misdirected or inauthentic, gratitude can have unintended consequences.

It is useful to be wary of “toxic positivity, » which happens when we indulge too much in looking on the bright side of things. Forcing yourself to be grateful in situations where it doesn’t feel natural can lead to emotional dissonance. Constantly focusing on gratitude can encourage deliberate avoidance of negative feelings like frustration or sadness, which hinder personal growth and emotional resilience.

These multidimensional consequences illustrate the mutual influence of our “human material” – body and brain and of our “human software”, but also 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, this can lead to 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 can make us more mindful of our tone and attitude in human interactions.

Plus, saying thank you – regardless of the recipient – ​​can create micro-moments of positivity, especially when our counterpart reciprocates. Such small acts of recognition remind us what we value, thereby building self-awareness, which can shape our offline engagements.

And finally, from a practical point of view: Chatbot results tend to be better when you approach it in a polite manner. Regardless of language and model, results were more accurate and useful when the fast was professional and polite.

But gratitude to AI is not without reservations.

Caveats to AI Gratitude

This raises ethical questions about anthropomorphism. While politeness can improve our daily experience, expressing gratitude to machines raises ethical concerns. Does thanking an AI blur the line between human and non-human interactions? Could this dilute our appreciation of relationships with people?

It could also create a false sense of connection. Chatbots are not sentient. Expressing gratitude to them could create a misplaced emotional attachment, potentially leading to a reduced reliance on real human relationships. If there is an AI companion that is always available, always polite and compassionate, why bother with a human being as eccentric, cumbersome and sometimes rude as us?

4 practical points to remember

To maximize the benefits of gratitude within AI while mitigating its pitfalls, the A-frame proposes a pragmatic approach:

Awareness

Acknowledge the intention and recipient of your gratitude. Are you thanking a person, a team or a machine? Understanding the purpose of your gratitude improves its authenticity.

Appreciation

Think about the value added by the action or entity. Whether it’s a chatbot providing accurate information or a friend offering assistance, take a moment to appreciate the effort or feature.

Acceptance

Accept the limitations of the context. A chatbot is not human and its “usefulness” is pre-programmed and not altruistic. Likewise, gratitude for life’s imperfections promotes resilience.

Responsibility

Use gratitude to strengthen your relationships and your sense of responsibility. Make sure your thanks contribute to meaningful connections, whether with people or through the habit of kindness.

Why Chatbot Gratitude Matters – and What It Says About Us

A balanced approach is essential in an increasingly digital world where human-AI interactions are becoming commonplace. Gratitude, when combined with awareness and responsibility, 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 towards a human or ChatGTP. Politeness toward AI may seem unnecessary, but it subtly shapes our emotional habits and social interactions. Infusing into our interactions, on the one hand, the values ​​that we appreciate and seek to model and, on the other hand, an acute awareness of context helps us grow online and offline.