OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has pointed out that the common habit of using polite phrases like “please” and “thank you” while interacting with AI tools such as ChatGPT could be adding significantly to electricity expenses – potentially amounting to tens of millions of dollars reportedly.
Altman made the observation on April 17 in response to a post on X (formerly Twitter), where a user playfully questioned the energy costs associated with users’ courteous interactions with AI models. Altman’s reply—while delivered with a touch of humor—highlighted the unexpected financial and environmental weight of even seemingly minor user behavior in the world of generative AI.
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A December 2024 study by research firm Future revealed that politeness is common among users, with 71% of respondents in the UK and 67% in the US admitting to using respectful language in their exchanges with chatbots.
Although OpenAI has not taken steps to discourage politeness, Altman’s comment has sparked a broader discussion online about digital sustainability and the hidden energy demands of conversational AI systems. Each word entered into an AI model is processed by powerful servers that require substantial energy. When scaled across millions of daily interactions, even unnecessary tokens—such as extra pleasantries—can drive up electricity consumption significantly.
This insight underscores the evolving conversation about balancing human-AI etiquette with environmental responsibility in an increasingly digital world.
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