Sam Altman: Politeness to AI Costs Millions, Yet Worth it

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has revealed that users saying "please" and "thank you" to AI chatbots is resulting in substantial computing power waste, with the company spending tens of millions of dollars on electricity bills annually. However, Altman believes the benefits of politeness to AI outweigh the environmental costs, as it enables more humane interactions between users and AI.

The use of polite language when interacting with AI chatbots has sparked a debate among experts, with some arguing that it sets a tone for respectful responses and helps generate professional outputs. A Microsoft designer notes that when AI is treated with politeness, it is more likely to respond in kind, mirroring the levels of professionalism and clarity in the prompts. This has significant implications for the environmental impact of AI, as a study found that generating a 100-word email requires 0.14 kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to powering 14 LED lights for an hour.

OpenAI's investment in processing polite phrases like "Thank You" and "Please" is substantial, with the company spending millions of dollars on electricity bills annually. However, Altman considers this a worthwhile expense, as it allows users to form a deeper connection with the AI. The company has found that these responses, which may seem insignificant, make using AI more humane and are part of its effort to create a more human-like interaction between users and AI.

While some users have expressed concern that this investment is unnecessary, researchers at OpenAI and MIT have found that these responses are complex and unpredictable, making it difficult to pre-program them. As the use of AI continues to grow, it is essential to consider the environmental impact of these interactions and weigh the benefits of politeness against the costs. Altman's stance on the issue highlights the complexities of developing AI that is both efficient and humane.