Politeness in Conversations with ChatGPT: Why “Please” and “Thank You” Cost Millions of Dollars
In recent months, a debate has erupted in the media and among artificial intelligence users about how we communicate with AI. While for most people it is only natural to use words such as “please” and “thank you” in everyday conversation, in the digital world these polite phrases are becoming an unexpectedly costly phenomenon. New studies and reports show that these very words, which have deep significance in human society, can mean hundreds of millions of Czech korunas in additional operating costs in the case of AI.
How Polite Are We to AI?
According to a recent analysis by TechRadar, based on data from OpenAI, it is surprising how many users of ChatGPT and other chatbots use polite phrases when communicating. The survey found that more than half of users regularly include words such as “please” and “thank you” in their queries. Interestingly, users from Japan, Germany, and the United States are the most polite, while this habit is less widespread in countries such as Brazil and India. These data show that people tend to carry their social habits into the digital environment. Many users say that speaking to AI in a “commanding” tone feels impolite, which is why they choose gentler and friendlier wording. Some even admit that they feel guilty if they forget to be polite to the “robot.”
The Hidden Cost of Politeness
At first glance, it might seem that a few extra words in a conversation could not have any significant impact. However, the opposite is true. As, for example, USA Today points out, every word a user writes means additional computational operations for AI. This is precisely where the enormous costs associated with operating large language models become apparent. OpenAI estimates that polite phrases users include in their queries alone will increase ChatGPT’s annual operating costs by tens of millions of dollars. In the Czech context, this amounts to hundreds of millions of Czech korunas. Every “please” and “thank you” means more data to process, longer responses, and consequently higher energy consumption and computing demands. This phenomenon is so significant that it has also begun to be discussed at the level of AI development. Developers are considering whether it would be appropriate to implement mechanisms capable of recognizing and ignoring purely polite phrases without affecting the quality of responses. At the same time, however, they point out that the humanity and naturalness of conversation are among the main reasons why chatbots are so popular.
As the number of users grows and AI is used more frequently, the environmental impact of these technologies is also becoming an issue. Every query and every additional word means higher electricity consumption. According to estimates by OpenAI, ChatGPT consumes so much energy when processing billions of queries annually that even a small reduction in the form of shorter messages could lead to a significant decrease in its carbon footprint. From this perspective, polite phrases are becoming not only a matter of social etiquette but also of environmental responsibility. Some experts therefore suggest that users consider whether it is truly necessary to be “polite” to AI in the traditional sense, or whether it would be better to choose more concise and efficient communication.
Food for Thought...
The debate over politeness in communication with artificial intelligence thus raises broader questions about how we want to live with technology and what values we instill in it. While some people consider it important to preserve humanity and naturalness even in the digital world, others point to the practical and environmental consequences of our habits. One thing is certain: as the importance of AI grows, this debate will become increasingly relevant. Perhaps we are heading toward a time when we will have to decide whether to prioritize efficiency and savings or preserve, even in the digital world, the politeness that is so characteristic of human society.
