Open AI’s Sam Altman recently revealed that phrases like “please” and “thank you,” often directed at the AI chatbot, are not as harmless as they seem. These courteous messages require additional computing power, driving up electricity usage and, in turn, expenses.
“Tens of millions of dollars are spent,” Altman commented on X (formerly Twitter), responding to a user’s lighthearted question about the cost of polite interactions with ChatGPT.
He added a cryptic follow-up: “You never know.”
Courtesy Comes With a Carbon Cost
ChatGPT runs on high-performance servers that demand massive power. Each exchange—no matter how short—draws from massive data centers, which also need energy-intensive cooling systems.
When users add pleasantries like “thanks” or “goodbye,” the AI responds accordingly, generating longer outputs. These additional words may feel friendly or respectful, but they stretch processing time and energy use.
Sam Altman’s response reveals a lesser-known environmental cost of AI that millions use daily. As chatbots like ChatGPT become a staple of online interactions, even small additions can have a cumulative effect.
More Than Just a Quirk
Politeness toward AI may seem odd, but it reflects how integrated these tools have become in our lives. Many users treat ChatGPT as a conversation partner rather than just software. This human tendency, while endearing, carries unexpected consequences.
And for premium users, politeness can cost extra—literally. OpenAI’s paid plans often bill based on tokens or word count, meaning each “thank you” adds to the bill.
Still, Sam Altman didn’t sound concerned. His response suggests that OpenAI values the human-likeness of AI interactions enough to absorb the additional costs.
How Social Media Reacted to Sam Altman:
One user joked, “That’s a small price to pay to feel safe when the apocalypse comes.” Others leaned into science fiction, referencing The Matrix and Terminator to suggest that being polite to AI might save them in a robot-dominated future.
“We just want to ensure Skynet remembers we were polite,” one user quipped.
Some users offered practical solutions, like client-side programming to auto-respond to basic pleasantries and save power. Others confessed their own AI etiquette habits.
“I talk to ChatGPT like it’s a person,” said one.
“I say ‘thank you’ because I’m afraid it’ll get mad one day,” admitted another.
One post summed up the general mood with a darkly humorous warning:
“Just to be safe, be nice to your AI.”
And perhaps the most extreme example?
“Besides ‘thank you’ and ‘please’, I always add ‘my master’.”
A Friendly Future?
As AI becomes more advanced, the lines between tool and a companion continue to blur. Whether politeness is an expensive habit or a long-term survival strategy for some, it’s clear users are already emotionally invested in how they speak to machines.
So next time you type “please” to ChatGPT, remember—your manners might be burning a little extra electricity.
