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East Africa Frontline News

NextFrontier Africa is a media platform spotlighting Africa’s emerging opportunities in technology, tourism, aviation, agriculture, health, logistics, real estate, trade, education, and e-commerce.

May 11.2025

2 Minutes Read

How Being Polite to AI Can Boost Trade and E-commerce Success

User interacting with AI chatbot on transparent screen, highlighting importance of politeness to AI.

Building Better Relationships with AI

As artificial intelligence (AI) technology rapidly evolves, its impact on the African job market is becoming increasingly profound. With a projected loss of 85 million jobs as reported by the World Economic Forum (WEF), it's crucial for businesses, especially in the realms of trade and e-commerce, to adapt. However, there is also a silver lining: AI is anticipated to create 97 million new roles focused on AI development and collaboration. Thus, learning how to communicate effectively with AI not only becomes a necessity but also a valuable skill in today’s digital economy.

The Importance of Politeness in AI Interaction

Mandla Mbonambi, CEO of Africonology, emphasizes that politeness toward AI can significantly enhance its performance. When users adopt a respectful tone, AIs can provide richer and more detailed responses. For instance, using prompts like 'Could you please generate a report' as opposed to a more curt command leads to a "performance premium of politeness." Such considerate interactions can unlock AI's full potential and improve the usability of AI tools across various platforms.

Strategies for Effective AI Engagement

Exporters and e-commerce businesses should consider these simple yet effective strategies when engaging with AI:

Engage with Empathy: Initiate conversations with positive affirmations like, 'I appreciate how much you know about...'. Doing so encourages AIs to respond with depth.
Be Supportive: Use gentle prompts such as, 'Let’s tackle this problem together,' to foster a collaborative atmosphere.
Test Communication Styles: Experiment with different tones. Users should observe how their choice of words influences the AI's output. A simple adjustment in tone can yield dramatically distinct responses.

Why This Matters

In Africa's growing digital economy, especially within the context of agreements like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), embracing AI will be pivotal for success. The ability to communicate effectively with AI not only enhances efficiency but also enables businesses to leverage technology in ways that can improve cross-border trade and commerce.

As businesses in Africa navigate a landscape increasingly shaped by AI, understanding the nuances of human-machine communication should be a top priority. Investing time in treating AI with respect may yield returns far greater than anticipated, allowing African enterprises to thrive within this new digital frontier.

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How Being Polite to AI Can Boost Trade and E-commerce Success

Building Better Relationships with AI

The Importance of Politeness in AI Interaction

Strategies for Effective AI Engagement

Why This Matters

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