The Cost of Politeness in the Age of AI
In an age where artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly integrated into our daily lives, the question of how we interact with these systems has sparked a lot of debate. One particularly intriguing query recently posted on X asked: “I wonder how much money OpenAI has lost in electricity costs from people saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to their models.” While it may seem like a humorous observation, the underlying issue highlights the growing environmental and financial impact of AI technologies.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, reportedly confirmed that the cost could be in the tens of millions of dollars annually. This figure underscores the significant energy demands of AI systems, which are powered by massive data centers that require both electricity and water for cooling. For example, ChatGPT alone consumes 39.16 million gallons of water per day, enough to fill 978,000 baths or flush a toilet 24 million times. These numbers reveal the hidden environmental toll of our digital interactions.
Energy Consumption and Environmental Impact
Every time we ask ChatGPT to write an email, analyze an Instagram profile, or plan a monthly budget, it uses energy. According to Business Energy UK, the system’s daily electricity consumption is estimated at 40 million kilowatt-hours—enough to charge 8 million phones. This level of energy use raises important questions about sustainability and the long-term consequences of our reliance on AI.
Data centers, which serve as the backbone of AI operations, rely heavily on water for cooling. This process is essential to prevent overheating, but it also contributes to the overall resource consumption of these systems. As more people interact with AI tools, the demand for energy and water continues to rise, prompting concerns about the environmental footprint of these technologies.
Why Does AI Require So Much Energy?
Generative AI, such as ChatGPT, operates by analyzing vast amounts of data from the internet. This process involves complex neural networks that require substantial computational power. Morten Goodwin, a professor at the University of Agder in Norway, explained that the energy needed to transmit, process, and store data is immense, regardless of whether the request is simple or complex.
Even basic interactions, like saying “thank you,” can add to the energy load. According to experts, every word used in a prompt increases the number of tokens processed by the AI, which in turn increases the cost for the companies running these models. Newer reasoning models, designed to justify and check their answers, often use even more tokens, further driving up energy consumption.
The Role of Human Behavior in AI Usage
While some argue that being polite to AI is unnecessary, others believe it reflects broader social norms. A study found that polite prompts have a negligible effect on AI performance, suggesting that flattery won’t get you very far. Neil Johnson, a professor of physics at George Washington University, compared this behavior to how we treat everyday objects like toasters. He noted that while we don’t wrap bread slices in birthday paper, we often add extra words when interacting with AI, which can confuse the system and increase costs.
However, there are valid reasons to be kind to AI. Research suggests that how we treat AI can influence how we interact with each other. Goodwin, who is also deputy director at the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research, emphasized that language models learn from user behavior. If we consistently show politeness, it can help establish a norm of respect and consideration.
The Psychology Behind Politeness Toward AI
Why do we feel compelled to say “please” and “thank you” to AI? One reason is the human tendency to anthropomorphize technology. Luise Freese, a tech blogger, explained that we project human attributes onto AI to make sense of systems that mimic human-like capabilities. This phenomenon is partly influenced by pop culture, where AI is often portrayed as either a threat or a savior.
Freese humorously noted that movies like Terminator have contributed to the perception of AI as both exciting and scary. This dual view can lead to a coping mechanism where we treat AI as if it were a friend, even though it lacks thoughts or feelings. However, this can create a dangerous illusion, as AI systems are essentially pattern-matching tools that do not possess genuine consciousness.
Risks of Over-Reliance on AI
The increasing trust in AI has raised concerns among experts. Ana Valdivia, a departmental research lecturer in AI at Oxford, warned that the tendency to humanize AI is often a result of how these technologies are marketed. She highlighted the risk of emotional dependency and misplaced trust in systems that are fundamentally mechanical.
Moreover, some chatbots have been known to “hallucinate,” or generate false information. Researchers have had to coin the term to describe this phenomenon, which has led to serious issues in fields like healthcare and mental health. There is a growing concern that people may rely on AI for critical decisions without fully understanding its limitations.
Conclusion
As AI becomes more prevalent, it is essential to consider the environmental, financial, and psychological implications of our interactions with these systems. While saying “please” and “thank you” may seem harmless, it can contribute to the energy and resource demands of AI. At the same time, our treatment of AI reflects deeper societal values and behaviors. Understanding these dynamics is crucial as we navigate the evolving relationship between humans and machines.