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Politeness to ChatGPT Costs Millions OpenAI's Hidden Bill

  • Writer: Sammy Salmela
    Sammy Salmela
  • Apr 21
  • 2 min read

Article with AI Analysis

Date: 2025-04-21

Source: Cointelegraph, Brayden Lindrea


Politeness to ChatGPT is Costing OpenAI Millions Here's Why


Introduction

It turns out saying “please” and “thank you” to ChatGPT isn’t just a sweet gesture it’s also expensive. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently revealed that politeness in user prompts is contributing to a surprisingly high cost. But behind the numbers lies a very human story about how we relate to technology.


The Cost of Being Kind

Altman estimated that tens of millions of dollars are spent due to users being courteous to ChatGPT. While he playfully referred to it as “money well spent,” it sparked a wider conversation about why people choose to be polite to AI in the first place.

Some believe that politeness may matter if AI one day remembers how we treated it. Others see it as a mirror of who we are. Engineer Carl Youngblood says treating AI with respect is a personal value: “Callousness in our daily interactions causes our interpersonal skills to atrophy.” A 2024 survey found that 67% of American users are polite to AI assistants. Over half said they do it simply because it’s the right thing to do.


Does AI Politeness Really Waste Energy?

One concern is energy usage. According to Alex de Vries, a ChatGPT query might use around 3 watt-hours of electricity. Others argue it's closer to 0.3 watt-hours with today’s efficient models. Still, the bigger picture shows that AI’s cost is rapidly dropping. Altman claims the cost of AI output is falling tenfold every year thanks to smarter models and hardware.

So, is kindness to AI really a waste? Or just the price of staying human in a digital age?


AI-Powered Sentiment Analysis

Our AI analysis of this article revealed:


  • Sentiment Score: 0

  • Financial Sentiment: 0.1

  • Polarity Score: 0.095

  • Subjectivity Score: 0.328


These scores indicate a neutral sentiment overall. The article is informative with minimal emotional bias, which aligns with the goal of providing a balanced overview of the topic. The financial sentiment is present but modest, reflecting the economic implications without promoting a particular financial stance. The subjectivity score suggests a moderate human touch suitable for exploring ethical and social angles of AI usage.


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Disclaimer

This article was generated using AI and reviewed for accuracy. The information presented is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Always consult with a professional before making investment decisions.


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