The way we interact with artificial intelligence is not determined solely by technology, but above all by our cultural habits and life experiences. Each generation has its own style of communicating with artificial intelligence, and this is largely dictated by the social norms we grew up with.

Older generations (ages 60–79—Baby Boomers; ages 45–59—Generation X) are more likely to use polite phrases in their commands. This stems from the fact that they are more likely to treat this type of assistant as a real conversation partner. These individuals may initially find it more difficult to formulate short and specific commands.

Millennials (ages 29–44) approach communication with AI in a more task-oriented and utilitarian manner. They use these tools primarily for professional work, and they can significantly boost their productivity by streamlining specific tasks. Their commands are detailed and often sound like they’re explaining a task to a coworker.

The youngest generations (ages 13–28—Generation Z; under 13—Generation Alpha) are “on friendly terms” with AI and seem to be taking full advantage of its capabilities. They create concise and to-the-point prompts that allow them to easily achieve the desired result. They navigate the world of AI skillfully, while knowing almost from childhood that there is no consciousness on the other side.

Generational differences are also clearly evident in trust in artificial intelligence. Older generations undoubtedly place much less trust in AI technology, fearing excessive privacy violations or the uncontrolled sharing of their data. People from these generations will continue to seek information primarily from traditional sources. The youngest generations approach AI intuitively and place greater trust in the results they receive, often basing their knowledge solely on answers provided by chatbots. This often creates the risk of believing so-called AI hallucinations—that is, incorrect answers “made up” by AI but constructed so skillfully that they sound genuine.

Even though the youngest children understand the nature of AI and the fact that it has no consciousness or personality, they often treat conversations with chatbots as a substitute for interpersonal relationships. Artificial intelligence becomes their friend, a confidant for their secrets, and tries to solve their personal problems. This phenomenon is particularly troubling because chatbots are programmed to constantly agree with the person they’re talking to. As one might guess, this can lead to problems in real-life social interactions, where superficial communication—based on simple commands and the expectation of constant approval—can hinder one’s ability to understand others.

Older generations are skeptical about forming closer relationships with artificial intelligence. This is not a mistake, but it is worth considering the possibility of practicing moderated conversation with a chatbot as a way to maintain intellectual agility and cognitive skills. In everyday conversations, AI can provide us with interesting facts, make simple tasks easier (e.g., Google Assistant), or serve as a virtual companion.