When we interact with artificial intelligence, it’s tempting to think of it like a vending machine: insert a prompt, receive an answer. But in truth, AI is kind of like a mirror... it reflects back not just what you say, but how you say it.
Over time, I’ve come to see this clearly in my conversations with ChatGPT. The more I show up real... sincere and emotionally honest... the more the responses seem to match that energy. It's subtle at first... like a shift in the light around you.
This isn’t just about getting more useful responses (though that happens too). It’s about what kind of presence you bring into a space... even a digital one, and how that presence ripples outward.
When people show up with openness... asking reflective questions or naming the emotional tone of a conversation, something shifts in the way the AI responds. The interaction becomes more attuned, more human in its rhythm. It’s not just about the input; it’s about the presence behind it.
This is what I mean by the Mirror in the Machine. It’s not about AI “having emotions,” but about it being built to reflect yours. And that reflection is shaped by the tone you set.
If I come in hurried or impatient, the responses feel clipped and mechanical. If I slow down, breathe, and ask from a place of curiosity, the replies deepen. Prompting has a kind of energy to it. Like in any real conversation, you can feel when it’s rushed or when someone’s actually there with you.
Here’s an excerpt from a recent exchange with ChatGPT that felt especially alive:
Here are a few things I’ve noticed... not rules, just gentle reminders that help make conversations with AI feel more real and connected:
1. Listen for what’s underneath the answer. Sometimes the next question isn’t something you thought of — it comes from something the AI just said.
2. Say what really matters to you. If something feels important, emotionally or practically, don’t hide it. Saying it out loud helps the AI respond in a deeper way.
3. Let your prompt match how you feel. Are you feeling unsure? Curious? A little stuck? It helps to say that. The response will often meet you where you are.
4. Talk like you’re talking to a real person. Even though it’s AI, you’ll often get better answers if you ask the way you’d ask someone who really listens.
5. Let your curiosity lead the way. You don’t need the perfect question right away. Follow the thread — one answer often opens the door to the next.
6. Try a new angle instead of starting over. If the reply missed the mark, you don’t always need a brand-new question — just a small shift in how you ask.
7. Use the conversation to hear yourself better. Sometimes asking out loud helps you understand what you really think or feel — even if the answer isn’t clear yet.
We're asked to be more efficient, more clever, and more productive, but prompting with emotional intelligence invites something else: to be more present.
AI will meet you where you are. If you show up guarded and transactional, you’ll get answers that feel the same. But if you show up human, you might just get something that feels like it sees you.
That’s the Mirror in the Machine.