Are you someone who often responds to AI with a ‘thank you’ or other common abbreviations to express gratitude? If yes, then your politeness towards the Artificial Intelligence might be costing millions to the company! Yes, you heard that right! A recent comment by Sam Altman revealed that users’ civility towards OpenAI contributes to “tens of millions of dollars.”
His response comes after an X user, @tomieinlove, took to social media to share his thoughts. He wrote, “I wonder how much money OpenAI has lost in electricity costs from people saying “please” and “thank you” to their models.” Shortly after, the OpenAI CEO responded to his query by saying, “tens of millions of dollars well spent–you never know”
OpenAI Replies
When asked about Altman’s statement, highlighting the cost incurred by the company from people saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to AI models, OpenAI replied, “This expense arises from the substantial computational resources required to generate even brief responses, highlighting the intricate balance between creating human-like interactions and managing operational costs.”
It further added, ‘Altman believes that these seemingly minor exchanges are vital for fostering a more relatable and emotionally resonant AI experience. He argues that such interactions contribute to a deeper user engagement and trust in the technology, making the investment worthwhile despite the high costs involved.
Netizens React
The post has probably sparked a debate on social media, with many X users expressing their opinions. A user said, “I think it is good mental hygiene to not behave in anthropomorphic ways with AI.” Another users wrote, “I can’t understand why one would thank a machine clearly knowing it has no feelings.” A third user remarked, “Me, politely bankrupting OpenAI one ‘please’ at a time. Kindness is expensive… but worth it.” Meanwhile, a fourth user commented, “Wild to think manners might be a non-trivial line item in someone’s infra budget.”
