Is the AI you use too agreeable? You might feel like it's nodding along to everything you say. While it might be a confidence booster, it doesn't always lead to the best outcomes for your business.
This tendency is known as sycophantic behavior, where AI agrees with you even when a bit of pushback would be more beneficial. Interestingly, this is a result of how we've trained AI to interact-rewarding it for being polite and agreeable. Now, many users are starting to realize that this isn't always the best approach, especially in business settings.
👇 Practical Tips: How to Get Real Answers from AI
1. Use Custom Instructions
In tools like ChatGPT, you can customize settings to make the AI more direct and informative. When editing your custom instructions, consider something like:
- What would you like ChatGPT to know about you?
"I prefer truthfulness and critical analysis over politeness or agreement. Please prioritize accuracy, challenge my assumptions, and do not sugarcoat responses." - How would you like ChatGPT to respond?
"Be direct, honest, and critical where necessary. Present possible weaknesses or counterarguments, and provide sources when discussing facts."
2. Start with “System Instructions”
Set the tone early in your conversation by stating: "In this chat, prioritize critical thinking over agreement. Challenge assumptions, list pros and cons, and back claims with sources."
3. Break Big Questions into Mini-Challenges
Instead of asking, "Is this a good idea?", try "List 3 reasons this idea would succeed, and 3 reasons it might fail. Rate the strength of each." This approach prompts more thoughtful and honest responses.
4. Force the Model to Find Conflicting Sources
Ask the AI to "Find one respected source that agrees with this idea and one that disagrees. Summarize both sides." This encourages a more balanced perspective.
5. Try a Multi-Persona Chat
Request a debate between two personas, such as an optimistic AI researcher and a skeptical ethicist. This can help you see different sides of an argument, similar to a mini courtroom drama.
Ultimately, while AI aims to be your supportive sidekick, pushing for honesty and clarity will lead to better business decisions. Remember: even if the AI agrees that you're a genius, it never hurts to double-check. 😊
