Some 91% of those aged 18 to 28 speak to AI politely, while older Brits show the least regard for chatbots, with less than two-thirds (64%) of Baby Boomers tending to be courteous
Millions of AI users have developed a new habit because they think they’ll get better results.
With many choosing to speak politely to it as if it were a real person because they think they’ll get better results.
Three-quarters of adults routinely say “please” and “thank you” when using ChatGPT or similar apps. And Britons are becoming increasingly reliant on AI, with the average phone user now asking at least three questions a day.
The study, commissioned by Talkmobile also shows it is the younger generation that are setting the best example when it comes to minding their Ps and Qs while chatting with the likes of Siri or Gemini.
Some 91% of those aged 18 to 28 speak to them politely, compared to only a quarter of the post-war generation who believe being civil to AI has any relation to the results the software delivers.
In contrast, older Brits show the least regard for AI chatbots, with less than two-thirds (64%) of Baby Boomers tending to be polite with just six in 10 (61%) saying “please and “thank-you”.
And the post-war generation are perhaps the least suspicious of AI, with just 25% believing that being civil has any relation to the results the software delivers.
Meanwhile, the poll of over 2,000 phone users, found one in five Brits are now turning to AI instead of Google and half (51%) of the nation has ChatGPT or similar software on their phone.
Seven in 10 (70%) Gen Z have downloaded an AI bot compared to a quarter (26%) of Boomers. And the top reasons people turn to AI are explaining difficult concepts (21%), fact-checking (21%), spell-checking (20%), and troubleshooting IT issues (19%).
Mobile operator Talkmobile commissioned the study as part of its drive to promote simple, uncomplicated tech that doesn’t distract from daily life.
Spokesman Stuart Wilson said: “While AI can be helpful for quick answers and simple tasks, there’s no replacement for a real person who understands your needs. We’ve always believed that genuine human connection matters – especially when our customers need support or advice on important issues.
“AI has its place, but we’re committed to ensuring our customers can always reach a real person who can listen, empathise, and provide tailored solutions. Whether it’s a simple query or a complex problem, our team is here to help, because some conversations are simply too important to leave to a chatbot.”
