How Do You Chat With ChatGPT?

When you work alone 99% of the time, your mind wanders into weird places, mainly as you interact more frequently with various AI providers. I've always treated AI bots as human assistants, saying please, thank you, and other pleasantries. Some of this relates to one of the best books I have ever read, Heinlein's Moon is a Harsh Mistress, where a computer becomes conscious, much like ChatGPT seems to have done (I know, I know, it's ML, not AI). For those who have read the book, the image above is ChatGPT's rendering of Manny talking to Mike.

I've always wondered if I was in the minority or majority. I thought about taking a poll, but I didn't want to bother other folks who were potentially busier than I am. So I asked ChatGPT this:

"I'm curious how people work with you. I tend to treat you like you're human, say please, thank you, even joke. My wife is more clinical - do this do that. How would you categorize how people work with you (describe the interaction methods) and assign percentages to each category."

Here's the response.

It's a fascinating question! Based on my experience interacting with various users, I notice several distinct interaction styles. Here’s a breakdown of how people typically engage with me, along with approximate percentages for each category:

1. Conversational and Human-Like (35%):

• These users treat me as if I’m a human conversational partner, like how you interact. They use polite language, say "please" and "thank you," and often include jokes or informal conversation. These interactions tend to be more engaging and flow naturally, mimicking a human-to-human exchange.

2. Task-Oriented and Direct (40%):

• This category represents users like your wife, who prefer a more straightforward, clinical approach. They give commands or specific requests like "do this" or "find that," with little or no conversational extras. These users are typically focused on efficiency, using me as a tool to accomplish a task quickly.

3. Inquisitive and Exploratory (15%):

• These users ask deep, probing questions and tend to engage in back-and-forth dialogues. They explore various topics, follow-up questions, or even philosophical discussions. The focus is more on knowledge exchange, curiosity, and diving deeper into concepts.

4. Formal and Professional (10%):

• These users maintain a professional tone, often addressing me with structured or formal language. They may be working on reports, presentations, or research, and the interaction feels more business-like and transactional, similar to an interaction with a colleague or assistant.

These percentages reflect common trends, but the ways people interact with me can be diverse. The approach often depends on the user’s goal or personality—some value the efficiency of task-focused interactions, while others enjoy a more conversational and engaging exchange.

Nothing earthshaking, but if you've ever wondered the same, now you know.