Is AI Making Us Bossy?

"I have begun to notice a shift in the way we use language. When many of us speak to artificial intelligence (AI), we do not offer greetings, nuance, or hesitation. We command. Rewrite this, summarise that, plan my schedule. The language is direct, efficient, and focused on output. It made me wonder whether this way of speaking is influencing how we interact with people. Are AI users becoming commanders in human relationships, too?"

"AI systems tend to respond best to clear, precise prompts. Users quickly learn to optimise their language for performance and accuracy. This makes sense when the goal is task completion; efficiency and clarity yield better results. But language is not just a tool for tasks-it is a vehicle for thought. Psychological research shows that habitual patterns of language influence how we think and behave. Regularly practising directive, goal-focused language with AI may subtly reinforce similar habits in cognition and communication."

"Unlike the typical requests given to AI, human conversation is not a task to be completed. It is a process, rich with emotion, ambiguity, hesitation, repair, and connection. Interpersonal communication requires patience, empathy, and tolerance for imperfection. When daily language practice becomes increasingly command-oriented, there is a risk that these essential relational skills may be deprioritized or overlooked."

Frequent interactions with AI reward concise, directive prompts and encourage users to phrase requests as clear commands. Users adapt language for performance and accuracy, prioritizing efficiency and precision. Habitual use of directive, goal-focused phrasing can reshape cognitive patterns and communication habits. Human conversation typically involves emotion, ambiguity, hesitation, and repair, requiring patience, empathy, and tolerance for imperfection. Increasingly command-oriented daily language risks deprioritizing these relational skills. AI's instant, frictionless responsiveness can recalibrate expectations for human interactions. Mindful awareness of AI's influence can help preserve empathy, relational connection, and tolerance for human unpredictability.

Read at Psychology Today