Being polite to ChatGPT might seem harmless, but those extra “pleases” and “thank yous” are adding up—literally. According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, this everyday politeness is costing the company tens of millions of dollars due to the additional computational load required to process these courteous interactions. Still, Altman insists the cost is “well spent,” suggesting that the value of politeness—both in conversation and in AI training—is worth the price.
The conversation began on X (formerly Twitter) when a user wondered how much electricity OpenAI burns because people use polite phrases with ChatGPT. Altman responded candidly, saying the cost runs into “tens of millions of dollars.” While he acknowledged the financial hit, he made it clear that it’s not a waste—implying that the interaction style with AI has meaningful value beyond economics.
Why politeness costs so much
These added costs stem from the intensive computing power required to handle every message ChatGPT processes. Even small, courteous words extend conversations and demand more server activity. OpenAI’s systems operate on massive data centers that consume enormous energy—not just for processing, but also for cooling to avoid overheating. So, every polite exchange subtly contributes to the rising energy demand tied to artificial intelligence.
As AI tools become more widely used, Altman’s remarks offer a glimpse into the lesser-known environmental and financial costs of conversational technology. Behind every witty response or helpful tip from ChatGPT lies a network of energy-hungry machines running 24/7 around the world.
The subtle power of being nice to AI
Interestingly, OpenAI isn’t asking users to tone down the niceties. In fact, politeness may serve a practical function. Designers at companies like Microsoft believe that polite language can set the tone for AI responses. Kurtis Beavers, a design manager at Microsoft, said respectful prompts often yield more collaborative and professional replies. This idea reflects how AI tools like ChatGPT mirror the tone and professionalism they receive.
Microsoft’s WorkLab echoes this idea, noting that when AI detects politeness, it tends to respond in kind. The level of courtesy, depth, and precision in a user’s input can shape the quality of the AI’s output, reinforcing the importance of how we interact with machines—even if it’s costing millions.
