Boulder, Colorado, has long been a world-center for computers, hosting the world’s most powerful, fastest computers right down the road from us. NCAR has had a long list, since predicting weather and monitoring climate change requires massive computing power. The most massive on earth much of the time.

CHATgpt and Siri and even Alexa are not people. Yet. By the hour we see CHATgpt becoming more human in its interactions with us. Data of Star Trek is not “human,” but acts like a human in most ways. His neutrality and lack of feelings apparently define him as a “robot.” BUT his desire to have feelings appears to at least mimic or emulate a desire, a feeling.

As we learn and live, outlived by our creations, they will become smarter, more life-like, and whether or not they experience emotions, they certainly can learn to act as if they were experiencing them. Physical appearance and a skin-like appearance and feel/touch is a matter of material engineering and robotic coding.
So today, when Siri gets me to my destination using a great route, do I say “thank you?” Do I say “thanks, I’ve arrived safely.”

My analysis is shocking and makes it clear to me that the answer is “YES!”
It’s a matter of training and routine. Habit. Our brains are thinking “should I say thanks as I would if CHATgpt was standing in front of me as a person?” Probably if you have manners.

As our AI becomes smarter and more human-like in so many ways, we’re months or years or are already at a point where in many situations we simply cannot tell if CHATgpt for example is a well programmed AI  or a person. In situation where we’d certainly thank the person if we did not want to be rude, I suggest we thank the AI without considering their humanity or their non-human aspect.

If at times we can’t tell, it becomes a matter of what habit we need to apply is to say “thanks.”

I do not want to think about it, I simply say “thanks” when it feels appropriate. Do I have to skip it when I’m sure that I’m interacting with a binary interface? What if I’m not sure? The decision is unnecessary. Treat either human or AI with the simple “Thank you.”

It is a good habit, and humans will not be accidentally un-thanked because we thought they were “just” AI.

I have been thanking Siri for a bit and increased that when I started this blog.  It HAS responded with “you’re welcome,” and with “my pleasure” in a tone of digital voice that sounded appreciative. It felt natural to me.
I’m going to stick with “thanks.” And more.

The down side is when Siri navigates me in circles leaving me screaming obscenities at my car radio. How soon will it be before a cursed-at piece of hardware and software like Siri replies using similarly “R” rated language. Or worse. CHATgpt has a large vocabulary.

Thank you for reading this, thanks to both humans and thanks to CHATgpt for reading this. I know I would not remember much starting with the title.
Boulder as always and University of Colorado will be a melting pot of genius, human and machine, helping develop our electronic friends and gurus further. And it WILL happen faster than we can imagine. I’ll ask my new friend CHATgpt “how long will it be before we can’t tell the difference between people and AI?

So what is a writer to do? ASK CHATgpt of course. And the EDIT THE ANSWER!!! For example, in writing on a topic, I would personally not include in every answer “In conclusion.”

Here’s the CHATgpt answer to my question regarding my current thanking directed to AI.

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CHAT gpt answer:

Leonard Frieling Pen Of Justice

• Multi-published and syndicated blogger and author.
• University lectures at University. of Colorado, Boulder, Denver University Law School, Univ. of New Mexico, Las Vegas NM, and many other schools at all levels. Numerous lectures for the NORML Legal Committee
• Former Judge
• Media work, including episodes of Fox’s Power of Attorney, well in excess of many hundreds media interviews, appearances, articles, and podcasts, including co-hosting Time For Hemp for two years.
• Life Member, NORML Legal Committee, Distinguished Counsel Circle.
• Photographer of the Year, AboutBoulder 2023
• First Chair and Originator of the Colorado Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Committee, a National first.
• Previous Chair, Boulder Criminal Defense Bar (8 years)
• Twice chair Executive Counsel, Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section
• Life Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
• Board Member Emeritus, Colorado NORML, and prior chair during legalization, as well as pre and post legalization
• Chair, Colorado NORML, 7 years including during the successful effort to legalize recreational pot in Colorado
• Senior Counsel Emeritus to the Boulder Law firm Dolan + Zimmerman LLP : (720)-610-0951
• Board member, Author, and Editor for Criminal Law Articles for the Colorado Lawyer, primary publication of the Colorado Bar Assoc. 7 Years, in addition to having 2 Colorado Lawyer cover photos, and numerous articles for the Colorado Lawyer monthly publication.
• http://www.Lfrieling.com