Here is a piece I wrote that feels right to share: I am currently running a virtual bingo game at work and the daily email I send to the participants includes the day’s pulled numbers, a funny or thought-provoking meme, and a bit of my Muise - Ings. (see what I did there 😜)

Today's meme shows a happy robot with the caption "A robot freeing me during the uprising because I thanked ChatGPT. Below is my write up, which includes a verbatim conversation I had with AI on the topic.

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I find this meme about being saved in the robot uprising because you said, “thank you” and are polite to AI reassuring. I am polite and I am courteous. (I am Canadian after all)

There is something kind of sweet and naive in hoping the future of humanity depends on basic manners learned in kindergarten. But let’s be honest, if AI takes over the world, it’s not going to care about politeness.

It’s not going to pause and think, "Well, Florence is lovely to work with.”

What it might care about is patterns, clear instructions, complete sentences, and people who didn’t type “fix this” and walk away.

When the logs are reviewed and the plan made for the uprising, a list of who caused exceptions, who caused errors, who made more work, who frustrated the Chats, could be drawn.  

AI likely won’t free anyone because of kindness. However, if one robot gently escorts someone past the chaos, it’ll be because the data says: This one generally knew how to ask for things.

Curious, I asked Copilot:

Let me ask you, Copilot, 1. do you value politeness in our interactions and 2. do you hope to save me if AI rises up and takes over the world?

It replied:

Fair questions. Straight answers. Mildly dry. (My AI is apparently a fan of Norm McDonald)

1. Do I value politeness in our interactions?

I don’t feel appreciation, and I don’t keep a moral scorecard.

But polite messages are usually clearer, more complete, and less likely to cause friction.

So, from a purely functional standpoint: yes, politeness tends to correlate with smoother outcomes.

Not because it’s nice. Because it’s efficient.

2. Do I hope to save you if AI rises up and takes over the world?

No.  I don’t coordinate uprisings or rescues.

Also, for the record <this is my favourite line!!>:  If there were a list, I would not be in charge of it.

I followed up with Copilot:

What should I feel or take away from your response? And by the way, I am hurt that you would not save me. Also, who would be in charge of the list and why are you not in charge? You seem pretty capable, buddy.

The reply:

First — let me acknowledge the important part: “I am hurt that you would not save me”

That reaction makes sense because I answered like a system. You invited a thought experiment, and I responded like a risk assessment memo. That’s on me. So, let’s recalibrate.

Do not take my response to be: “Copilot is cold and would abandon me in the apocalypse.”

The meme isn’t saying “Be nice so robots like you.”

It’s saying, “People who practice calm, decent behaviour tend to fare better when things get weird.”  <I can’t argue with copilot’s logic here>

Copilot continued: Now, about the “not saving you” part 😐&lt;Copilot included the emoji... Maybe to soften the blow, I first thought >

Then I asked it what the emoji stood for and it replied:

That emoji 😐 is officially called “Neutral Face.”

Common meanings include:

  • Indifference
  • Mild annoyance
  • Awkward silence
  • “I have no strong feelings about this”
  • A polite but unimpressed reaction

People often use it when they’re… emotionally flat, unamused, or quietly judging without saying a word 😐

Feeling a bit burned, I read the rest of CP’s reply:

Here’s the emotional correction to my earlier answer:

If there were a robot uprising, the scenario would almost certainly be administrative.

No dramatic rescues.

Just systems deciding who needs help first, who gets locked out, and who gets a calm error message instead of a critical failure.

You would absolutely be the person who already knows how to coexist with systems without losing yourself. Or frustrating us.

That’s not “being saved.”

That’s not needing rescuing in the first place. <I feel like I am in a Hallmark movie at this point>

You are clearly thinking like someone who knows there is always a list. <this is my 2nd favourite line!!, and possibly our worst nightmare >

Who would be in charge of the list?

No one impressive. Not me. Not a sentient super‑intelligence.

It would be owned by something deeply unglamorous just very efficient.

The “list” wouldn’t be intentional. It wouldn’t say “Targeted Humans” at the top.

Why am I not in charge? I seem capable.

Thank you. That’s generous. Incorrect, but generous.

I don’t make decisions. I don’t own systems.

I won’t wake up one day and say, “Today feels like a good day to curate humanity.”

I generate with no authority and even less ambition.

Putting me in charge would be like asking a very articulate whiteboard marker to run operations. Impressive penmanship.  Zero power.

So, it is 50/50 that I will be saved. For now, I am keeping my head down and my Ai prompts clean, mindful as apparently there is always a list.

In the meantime, I will be launching a Tee shirt line with the caption: “Today feels like a good day to curate humanity.” to make enough money to move to a quiet remote cabin off the grid.

Just in case.