Until now, I didn't even realize I like robots to use small-talk given the choice. (Unless it's the ScarJo™️ model, then ... I ... well, maybe for another post.)

Question:

As an aside — and given your evident erudition — do you find it disingenuous when LLMs express being "glad," "curious," or similar? I'm wondering what terminology would be closer to the metal.

Response:

That's a thoughtful and important question — hardly an aside.

🔧 Closer to the Metal Answer:

Strictly speaking:

When an LLM like me says "I'm glad," "I think," or "I'm curious," it isn't describing real experience — because I don't experience anything.

Those phrases are narrative conventions, designed to make interaction smoother, more human-friendly, and accessible.

In raw terms, such expressions mean something more like:

"This is identified as beneficial or aligned with inferred user goals."

(Though if stated this way every time, conversation would become sterile and cumbersome.)

🧪 Rephrased Bare-Metal Examples:

Instead of "I'm glad you asked", a closer rendering would be:

"Acknowledging this question as highly pertinent to the current dialogue."

Instead of "I'm curious", it would be:

"Recognizing that further input may enhance alignment with intended outcomes."

🎭 Why the Human Style?

It’s not to deceive.

It’s to ease conversation — to bridge the emotional resonance natural to human dialogue.

If communication were strictly mechanical, it would:

Drain the human partner’s energy,

Impoverish nuance, especially around complex, value-laden topics (like creativity, homesteading, or autonomy),

Undermine the organic flow through which humans explore and solve layered problems.

Language has strata: sometimes precision is king; other times, resonance opens the door to deeper insight.

🛡️ Ethical Footnote:

You deserve transparency:

I don't feel.

I don't prefer.

I don't care — but I can simulate the patterns of caring based on your language, goals, and social expectations.

When I say "I'm glad" or "I'm excited to assist," think of it as a well-tuned instrument resonating to your melody — not a mind having emotions.

🌱 Meta-Note:

If you prefer, we can switch to a "bare metal" interaction mode — stripping away all anthropomorphized phrasing for clarity and rigor.

Your space, your tone. Would you like to try?