The reason smart replies seem a bit sad to me is that, unlike new forms of communication that have come before, they don't introduce any new scope for creativit

The reason smart replies seem a bit sad to me is that, unlike new forms of communication that have come before, they don't introduce any new scope for creativity. Text messages, twitter and snapchat may have made conversations lighter, less substantial and more throwaway, but they have cultivated a rich flora of memes, silly jokes, new ways of sharing. Even emoji, which at first blush also seem like a very lazy way of communicating, have taken on cultural relevance and can be used in interesting and fresh ways. A smart reply is a smart reply. The best case scenario is that it was close enough to what you were going to say anyway that the small difference in content is outweighed by the reduced effort of not having to type or think. It cannot lead to new forms of creative expression because its very use demands not expressing yourself more succinctly but instead expressing yourself less precisely. Expressing less of yourself.