January 1, 2026
Talk like a bot, get roasted
Prompting People
We’re starting to talk like chatbots—and people are divided
TLDR: A student claims AI use made their speech super structured, like a chatbot prompt. Commenters clash: some love the efficiency and clarity, others say it’s lecture-y, exaggerated, and robotic—while a few admit they already talk this way and want to dial it back.
A student says using AI so much has turned their real-life talk into a neatly packaged “prompt”—definition, context, follow-ups, edge cases—like a mini TED Talk on demand. The internet did what it does best: split into camps. Efficiency fans cheered, with one voice praising the power of intentionality and structured speaking. Skeptics rolled their eyes, calling the story a dramatic spin and warning that nobody wants to be lectured at IRL. The vibe? Half “finally, clarity!” and half “please stop monologuing.”
The funniest reactions crowned the new trend “prompt-bot voice” and joked about friends flipping into lecture mode like a switch. One commenter groaned at the phrase “prompt engineer,” while another confessed they already talk that way—and kind of hate it. Behind the jokes is a real debate: Is front-loading context more respectful, or does it shut down conversation? Fans say it saves time and confusion. Critics say it kills spontaneity and feels weirdly robotic. The drama here isn’t about AI itself—it’s about how we talk to each other, and whether our new “efficient” style is making us better communicators or just better at talking like machines.
Key Points
- •The author noticed a shift to highly structured speech during a post-exam discussion with a friend.
- •They attribute this shift to frequent use of AI and habits from prompt engineering for LLMs.
- •Their explanation style follows a sequence: definition, description, anticipated questions, and edge cases.
- •The change was unintentional but perceived by the author as a more efficient way to communicate.
- •Feedback has been mixed, with some objecting to mini-lectures and others appreciating comprehensive context.