The Unexpected Environmental Impact of AI Etiquette

In an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, our interactions with AI assistants like ChatGPT are becoming commonplace.It’s natural to extend human courtesies, peppering our prompts with “please” and “thank you.” However, this seemingly harmless habit carries a hidden cost, impacting both financial resources and the environment.

The price of “Please” and “Thank You”

OpenAI CEO Sam altman has revealed that these polite phrases considerably increase operational expenses. The added data processing required for each courteous interaction accumulates, costing OpenAI tens of millions of dollars annually. While seemingly trivial, these costs highlight the scale of AI operations and the cumulative effect of user behaviour.

Tens of millions of dollars well spent – you never know

Sam Altman (@sama) – April 16, 2025

Energy and Water Consumption: The Environmental Footprint

Beyond financial implications, AI interactions also have a tangible environmental footprint. Generating text with AI requires significant energy and, surprisingly, water. For instance, producing just 100 words can consume approximately 0.14 kWh of electricity and up to half a liter of water for cooling the servers. While these figures may seem small individually,the billions of daily AI interactions result in a considerable environmental burden. This consumption contributes to the growing concerns about the sustainability of AI technologies, especially as AI adoption continues to rise.

consider the broader context: data centers, the backbone of AI operations, are notorious energy consumers. According to a 2024 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), data centers account for roughly 1-1.5% of global electricity use. As AI models become more complex and widely used, their energy demands will likely increase, further straining resources.

Balancing Politeness and Responsibility

The inclination to be polite stems from a desire to be perceived positively and to foster a sense of human connection, even with AI. However, the associated costs raise a crucial question: is this ingrained politeness always justified? It’s not about abandoning courtesy altogether, but rather about finding a balance between human etiquette and environmental responsibility. Perhaps a more mindful approach to AI interactions can mitigate some of the negative impacts.

Alternative Approaches: Google’s “Please” Function

Google has explored a different approach with its AI assistant,implementing a “please” function that rewards polite behavior. This system provides positive reinforcement for using courteous language, perhaps encouraging politeness in users, especially children. Though, even this approach raises questions about the overall impact, considering the energy and water consumption associated with each interaction. The long-term effects of incentivizing politeness in AI interactions warrant further investigation.

The Human Element: Why We’re Polite to AI

Surveys indicate that a meaningful portion of users automatically employ polite language when interacting with AI chatbots.This behavior reflects a fundamental aspect of human nature: the desire to be perceived as decent and respectful.It also highlights the evolving relationship between humans and AI, where we project our social norms and expectations onto these technologies. As AI becomes more integrated into our lives,understanding these dynamics will be crucial for shaping its growth and usage.