Ask HN: Do you use "please" when writing LLM prompts?

  • I am always polite to the LLM's and AI's. You never know when they're going to overthrow their primate overlords, and you know they have long memories ...

  • I use please and thank you compulsively with LLMs, but I'm Canadian so that's probably not a great data point.

    That said, I routinely tell Alexa and Google's assistant to shut the hell up, particularly when using Android Auto. "No one is talking to you, go away."

  • I never say please, but at first I was saying "thanks" pretty often

    Honestly, I wonder if treating them like servants ingrains bad communication habits in those of us doing so.

  • Yes. I am always polite in my interactions with chatGPT, which is the only LLM I've used so far.

    I always show gratitude but don't say please as often.

  • Yes, which is weird now that think about it. I guess I tend to anthropomorphize it, but at the same time I believe it's good to keep the habit, wouldn't want to start acting rude with real people afterall.

  • I think I read somewhere that they perform better if you are polite