Pre-AI, some, if not most of us humans swore at each otherโour best Hollywood blockbusters pulsing with every colorful curse imaginable. The more creative the expletives, the more memorable the scene. Now, weโve got a new target: AI chatbots. We start with a polite โplease,โ slide into frustrated โwhy wonโt you listen,โ and sometimes unleash a full-on profanity festโonly to watch the machine shrug it off and keep responding. In this era where politeness and profanity collide, AI doesnโt blink. Letโs dive into how our venting rituals have evolved in the face of an unflappable, emotionless partner.
1. Survey Says: Thanksโฆ and Swear Words
A recent Tidio survey finds 70% of users have sworn at chatbots out of frustration, even as many still say โthank youโ afterward. We swing between politeness and profanity in the same conversation, mirroring our own emotional roller coaster when tech stumbles.
2. From Pleasantries to Threats
In 2025, Google co-founder Sergey Brin confessed that AI models actually perform better when you โthreaten themโ with harsh language. While human politeness costs time and effort, AI doesnโt mind a prickly prompt. It simply optimizes for your commandโno hurt feelings.
3. Why Our Styles Evolve
- Habitual Politeness: Saying โpleaseโ and โthank youโ carries over into digital chats.
- Frustration Venting: When AI falters, our human impulse is to let it have it with colorful language.
- Command Escalation: If gentle requests fail, we try louder, sharper promptsโsometimes even threatsโhoping for better results.
AI tolerates each approach without bias or backlash.
4. The Gift of an Emotionless Partner
Unlike human listeners, AI has no ego or emotions. It wonโt sulk, hold a grudge, or tweet your insults. This makes it an endlessly patient collaborator:
- You can experiment with tone.
- You can refine your queries without fear.
- You can learn better prompts through trial and error.
Every misfire is just data, not drama.
5. Mastering the Art of AI Conversation
- Start Polite: โPlease summarizeโฆโ sets a clear, respectful tone.
- Be Specific: Vague prompts yield vague answersโdefine the format, scope, and style.
- Adjust & Iterate: If the first result misses the mark, tweak your wording or add examples.
- Skip the Swear Jar: Profanity wonโt speed up AI, but precise edits will.
- Practice Patience: AI has all the patience in the worldโlean into it.
Think of AI as a wise tutor who never tires. With polite persistence and clear instructions, youโll get sharper, more reliable outputs.
๐พ Final Thought
In our conversations with AI, we can choose any styleโgracious, grumpy, or even threatening. But the smartest path is clear: patient dialogue. AI never tires, never cries foul, and never forgets your last insult. As the recent survey shows, 70% of users have sworn at AI chatbots at least once, treating them like real humans. Yet no matter how humanely we vent, AI never retaliates, never holds grudges, and never validates our foul moods. Screaming wonโt speed it up; precise, patient prompts will.
Remember: AI is a tireless partner. It responds only to clarity and specificity, not to the tone of our tantrums. So when frustration strikes, take a breath, refine your instructions, and let the AI do its job without complaint.
Sources
- TechRadar Pro โ โI Almost Always Say Thanks to ChatGPTโฆ but Most People Have Sworn at AI Chatbots at Least Once, Survey Findsโ (Wayne Williams, June 23, 2025)
- LaptopMag โ โโWe Donโt Circulate This Muchโ: Google Co-Founder Reveals Shocking AI Hackโ (Nick Lucchesi, May 29, 2025)
