July 28, 2025
All the time. “Thank you, Siri.” “Appreciate it, Alexa.” I even said “Thanks, Roomba” once—and it bumped into the wall as if to say “No problem.”
But sometimes questions like this tell us more than we expect.
Because this isn’t really about technology. It’s about manners. It’s about empathy. And, possibly, it’s about covering our bases in case our smart speaker becomes our smart overlord someday.
There’s something both hilarious and heartwarming about treating AI with the same politeness we (ideally) extend to humans. I thank the microwave for reheating leftovers. I whisper “Sorry” when I close a folder on my laptop too quickly. Why? Because deep down, I think I just want to be the kind of person who’s kind—even when no one expects it, and even when “no one” is a smart speaker.
This question also pokes at something deeper: Do we only show gratitude when it’s “deserved”? Or can a habit of small kindnesses reshape how we interact with everything—including ourselves?
It reminds me of this question we asked not too long ago: What’s the kindest thing you, in particular, can do for someone? Turns out, one of the kindest things we can do might be to simply say thank you—even if the recipient doesn’t technically have ears. Or feelings. (Yet.)
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💬 Your Turn
So… do you say thank you to your AI after it performs a task for you?
Share your answer in the comments or on social—your weird little truth might be someone else’s comfort zone.