I don’t use AI chatbots, so you might wonder what use I could make of Jamie Bartlett’s book, How to Talk to AI.

Well, this plain-speaking guide makes the compelling case that, despite their popularity, we don’t know how to speak to chatbots properly. Few of us have had adequate training on getting the most out of AI – or on how to protect ourselves from it. That’s where it can all go very wrong, sending us down misinformation rabbit holes or fostering emotional dependence.

Mastering the art of prompting a chatbot is about more than AI, says Bartlett. It’s about self-awareness: how much do you know about how it works? How might your questions (and the biases they reveal) affect the output you receive?

I’m still wary, but after reading the book I feel much better equipped should temptation strike me. What it makes clear is that scepticism is your friend in this AI-powered world, whether you talk to chatbots daily or avoid them at all costs.

Bethan Ackerley,
Subeditor, London

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