Polite phrases like “please” and “thank you” are driving up OpenAI’s electricity bills as ChatGPT users continue to interact courteously with the AI.
Politeness comes at a price for AI chatbots
They say manners don’t cost a thing—but when it comes to ChatGPT, courtesy is surprisingly expensive.
OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman recently revealed that users who say “please” and “thank you” to ChatGPT are significantly driving up the company’s electricity costs.
The AI tool, which interacts with millions daily, is known for its conversational abilities.
While some users skip the pleasantries to keep things efficient, a large portion prefer to be polite, treating ChatGPT as they would a human assistant.
ChatGPT’s memory and manners
Altman also noted that ChatGPT’s memory has been “greatly improved,” enabling the bot to recall past conversations.
This makes some users feel it’s even more important to maintain good manners, as they don’t want the chatbot to “remember” them as rude.
And they’re not alone in this thinking.
According to a December 2024 survey by TechRadar’s Future, 71% of UK respondents go out of their way to be courteous when using ChatGPT.
Interestingly, 12% admitted they’re polite specifically out of fear—concerned about potential future consequences from AI.
The hidden cost of saying “please” to ChatGPT
However, this human-like interaction comes with a hidden cost. In response to a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), Altman disclosed that these friendly gestures collectively cost OpenAI “tens of millions of dollars” in energy consumption.
One social media user mused about the expense of users being polite to the chatbot.
Their post gained massive attention, sparking widespread curiosity—and Altman didn’t shy away from the numbers.
He acknowledged the steep cost but added: “Tens of millions of dollars well spent—you never know.”
How much energy does ChatGPT use?
Each short response from ChatGPT can use up to 0.14 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity—the equivalent of running 14 LED lightbulbs for an hour.
Given the billions of interactions ChatGPT handles daily, that energy usage adds up quickly.
It underscores just how resource-intensive it is to power AI tools at a global scale.
Why being nice to ChatGPT might still be worth it
Despite the cost, industry leaders suggest politeness might still have long-term value.
Kurtis Beavers, Director of Design for Microsoft Copilot, emphasized that AI tends to mirror the tone of its user. He advised people to stay courteous:
“Using polite language sets a tone for the response. It’s a conversation.”
So while being nice to ChatGPT might cost OpenAI millions, it may also help users get better, more thoughtful replies—highlighting how human behavior continues to shape our interactions with AI.