What Social Skill Would You Teach an AI Assistant?
I was fixing a leaky faucet the other day and got to chatting with the homeowner about their new smart speaker. It got me wondering: if we could teach AI assistants just one social skill to make them more helpful, what should it be?
For me, I’d go with reading the room. You know, picking up on subtle cues like tone or when someone’s getting frustrated. Half my job is figuring out what a customer isn’t saying out loud like when they’re worried about the cost but don’t want to ask. An AI that could sense when to simplify an explanation or offer reassurance would feel way more natural to talk to.
What’s your pick for the most important social skill an AI could learn?