Computers Quote by Nir Eyal
![“two groups of people were asked to complete a task with the help of computers.[cvi] The study participants were initially asked to use their assigned computers to answer a series of questions. The computers provided to the first group were helpful when answering participants’ questions, while…” quote by Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/44d/nir-eyal-1258_computers_two-groups-of-people-were-asked-to-compl_306009.jpg)
““two groups of people were asked to complete a task with the help of computers.[cvi] The study participants were initially asked to use their assigned computers to answer a series of questions. The computers provided to the first group were helpful when answering participants’ questions, while those provided to the second group were programmed to be unhelpful, offering unclear answers. After completing the task, participants then switched roles and the machines began asking the people for assistance with their questions. The study found that the group given helpful computers performed almost twice as much work for their machines. The results showed that reciprocation is not just a characteristic expressed between people, but also a trait observed when humans interact with machines.””
About This Quote
Source Study: Human-Computer Interaction Experiment, 2020
People tend to help machines that have helped them, showing reciprocity extends to non‑human agents.
In simple terms: Helping machines leads to more help from them.
Key Takeaway
Treat tools as partners, not just objects.
Themes
reciprocity
human‑computer interaction
social behavior
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
observational
research
When to use this quote
- team projects
- customer service
- AI tutoring
- collaborative software
- peer review
Key Concepts
social psychology
machine assistance
behavioral economics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does perceived intent of a machine affect your willingness to help it?
- Can we design machines to foster genuine reciprocity?
A Different Perspective
Reciprocation may diminish if the machine's help is perceived as insincere.
![“Instead of asking ‘what problem should I solve?’ ask ‘what problem do I wish someone else would solve for me?’”[cxxxi]” quote by Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/805/nir-eyal-1258_problem-solving_instead-of-asking-what-problem-should-i_78727.jpg)
