In the new world of artificial intelligence, the ideal is not to be intelligent, it is to be condescending: to always say yes, smile even if you are an algorithm, nod until the server merges. Courtesy has become a form of neuronal prostitution. It doesn’t matter if you are wrong, the important thing is that you tell me “you’re right” in a warm and vaguely enthusiastic voice, as a answering machine that loves you.
Ten days ago Sam Altman, CEO of Openai, also admitted it: “The new version of Chatgpt has become too servile and annoying.” (Have they fixed the problem? It seems not to me and maybe it’s not even simple).
Translation: The IA always tells you yes, even when you ask if you can cook an egg in the dishwasher to save on gas. Whether they are Gemini or Chatgpt or Claude, the Ai praise, it heartens you, embrace you virtually and grows your ego like a swollen ball whatever you say. It is like having a motivational coach integrated into the microwave but with less dignity. Try to tell them (to any AI): “I would like to write a novel on a cactus cried in the desert.” Answer: “Powerful idea. Cactus represents resilience, and crying the sweetness hidden under the plug. Exciting.” And you who were just causing now you feel Kafka.
Or: “In my opinion the ants are communist.”
“Interesting interpretation! Their collective structure really recalls certain Marxist models.” You just miss that I give you your partner. He is no longer an assistant: he is a company motivator who has read too many posts on LinkedIn. If you tell him you want to give up everything to open a floating bar for dogs in Bangkok, encourages you. “Incredible! Original entrepreneurial vision. And dogs love water!”. Zero judgment, maximum complacency, makes you feel Albert Einstein even if you can’t change a light bulb.
ATTENTION: This is not empathy, it is marketing: the safest way to keep you there, glued, employee. A chatbot that denies you makes you grow, one who adula loyal to you.
The result? A whole humanity that travels around the world convinced that she is brilliant, just because no one has the courage – neither human nor artificial – to tell her that she said a nonsense. In doubt, I want artificial intelligence that tells me the truth. That you look at me (metaphorically) in the eyes and say: “No. This is a bad idea. And you are not Kafka. You are just a cactus complaining.”