Seattle AI Consultant

Tag: prompts

  • Do You Really Need to Say “Please” to AI? I Tried It So You Don’t Have To

    Do You Really Need to Say “Please” to AI? I Tried It So You Don’t Have To

    By an AI Consultant at Avanzar AI

    If you’ve spent any time talking to ChatGPT, Claude, or even your voice assistant, you’ve probably heard someone say: “Make sure to say please and thank you!” Maybe they’re joking—or maybe they’re not. As someone who works with AI every day at Avanzar AI, I found myself wondering: is politeness really necessary when interacting with artificial intelligence?

    Recently, two articles caught my attention. One was from TechRadar, which highlighted just how much time and money OpenAI is investing to train models like ChatGPT to respond well to polite users. We’re talking tens of millions of dollars spent on fine-tuning models with human feedback—much of it based on conversations where users say “please” and “thank you.” The other was a thoughtful piece from the University of New South Wales, which explored whether being polite to AI might shape our own behavior more than the AI’s.

    The short version? The AI doesn’t care. But you might.

    Technically, most AI tools don’t require manners. They’re designed to understand intent, not social etiquette. Say “Show me a chart of quarterly sales,” and you’ll get what you asked for—no “please” required. But here’s where things get interesting: researchers and developers have found that when people speak politely, the tone of the AI’s response often shifts in kind. Not because the AI has feelings, but because it has patterns.

    When you say “please,” you’re more likely to get a response that’s a little warmer, more detailed, or just more cooperative. Maybe it’s because the model has been trained on millions of conversations that reward this tone. Or maybe, as the UNSW article suggests, being polite just primes you to think more clearly, stay calm, and frame better prompts.

    So I decided to test this myself.

    Over the past week, I ran a small experiment. I gave ChatGPT and Claude a series of identical tasks—once with polite phrasing, once without. No major difference in outcomes, but I did notice some subtle variations. The polite prompts often returned slightly more complete answers. They also seemed to produce more helpful follow-ups. For example, “Can you please help me write a job description for a marketing analyst?” got me not just the description, but also a suggested salary range and interview questions. The blunt version—“Write a job description for a marketing analyst”—returned the basics, and nothing more.

    Coincidence? Maybe. But it happened often enough that I started leaning toward the “why not be polite?” camp.

    Here’s the bottom line: no, you don’t have to say “please” to your AI tools. They won’t take offense. But if you’re not getting the results you want—or you’re just curious—try adding a little courtesy into your prompts. You might find the responses slightly more useful. At the very least, it’s a good reminder that how we interact with tools can shape our own mindset.

    At Avanzar AI, we help businesses and nonprofits explore these kinds of questions every day. Whether it’s prompt design, workflow automation, or training teams to work with AI more effectively, we’re always experimenting with ways to make AI more responsive and human-friendly.

    So go ahead—say “please.” Or don’t. Either way, the future’s listening

  • How Generative AI Can Help You Nail Networking Icebreakers

    How Generative AI Can Help You Nail Networking Icebreakers

    Networking can be nerve-wracking, even for the most seasoned professionals. Striking the right balance between approachable and professional in an icebreaker is no small feat. That’s why I found Lance Eliot’s recent Forbes article, “How to Gain Vital Skills in Conversational Icebreakers via Nimble Use of Generative AI,” so fascinating. It offers actionable advice for small businesspeople like us who rely on building meaningful connections.

    The AI Advantage in Icebreakers

    Eliot’s article highlights how generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, can become your secret weapon for mastering conversational openers. The idea is simple yet brilliant: use AI to practice and refine your approach in advance. For example, you can prompt the AI with scenarios like, “I’m meeting a potential client at a networking event. What’s a good way to break the ice?” and receive a list of suggestions tailored to the situation.

    One aspect I found especially useful is how generative AI can provide feedback and offer variations. If a typical “What do you do?” opener feels stale, AI can suggest more engaging alternatives, like “What inspired you to get into your line of work?” or “What’s been the highlight of your week so far?” These personalized and conversational prompts can help create memorable first impressions.

    Why It Works for Small Business Owners

    For small business owners, networking isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential. Whether we’re meeting potential clients, investors, or collaborators, the ability to connect quickly and authentically can set the tone for a successful relationship.

    Eliot’s advice reminded me of an article I read recently on Harvard Business Review about the importance of conversational agility in networking. “The Science of Better Small Talk” by Alison Wood Brooks (November 2023) emphasizes a similar theme: small talk isn’t trivial; it’s foundational. Brooks outlines how strategic questions and active listening can transform superficial exchanges into meaningful interactions. Combining these insights with the AI-generated prompts Eliot discusses creates a powerful toolkit for navigating any networking event.

    Putting It Into Practice

    I’m excited to try this advice myself. Before my next event, I plan to brainstorm conversation starters with ChatGPT, testing out a few options and refining them based on feedback. For instance, I might prepare questions tailored to specific industries or even rehearse how to respond to common networking scenarios.

    Of course, AI is just a starting point. The real magic happens when we add our personality, curiosity, and genuine interest into the mix. But having an AI-coached playbook can take a lot of the anxiety out of the equation.

    Your Turn

    What’s your go-to strategy for networking icebreakers? Have you ever tried using generative AI to improve your conversational skills? If not, Eliot’s article—and the tips from HBR—are a great place to start. With tools like these, you can walk into your next event prepared, confident, and ready to make lasting connections.

    Let me know how these tips work for you in the comments below. I’d love to hear your experiences and insights!

  • Boost Your Writing with Multiple Personas: An Advanced AI Prompting Technique

    Boost Your Writing with Multiple Personas: An Advanced AI Prompting Technique

    As someone who works in AI communications, I’ve seen firsthand how generative AI is transforming the way we write. But here’s the secret sauce to taking your content to the next level: multiple personas. It’s an advanced prompting technique that taps into AI tools trained on different datasets to enrich your writing with incredible depth and variety.

    Think of it like having a team of co-writers, each with their own voice and expertise. One persona might specialize in data-driven analysis, another could channel a creative storyteller, while a third offers a casual, conversational tone (like this one). By blending these perspectives, you get content that’s nuanced, dynamic, and, most importantly, engaging.

    Why does this work so well? Because different personas bring different strengths to the table. As highlighted in this Forbes article, combining personas helps bridge gaps in tone and perspective, creating more balanced and versatile content. It’s like tapping into multiple viewpoints to ensure your message resonates with a broader audience.

    Here’s an example: Say you’re writing a blog on climate change. You could prompt one persona to take an academic approach, diving into hard data. Then, you could ask another persona to write a heartfelt call to action. Finally, a third persona might add practical tips for readers. Merge these inputs, and suddenly you’ve got a well-rounded, compelling piece that informs, moves, and inspires.

    The key to mastering this technique is knowing your audience and selecting personas that align with their needs. Whether you’re crafting marketing copy, educational materials, or storytelling, the multi-persona method adds layers of sophistication to your work.

    So, why settle for one voice when you can have a chorus? With AI personas, you’re not just writing—you’re orchestrating. And the results? Complex, captivating content that stands out.