Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, recently made a provocative statement: using polite language like "please" and "thank you" with chatbots like ChatGPT is wasteful, consuming significant electricity and computing resources.
Altman argues that while politeness towards AI is often seen as culturally necessary or beneficial for interaction quality, it subtly burdens AI systems. Each polite phrase requires the chatbot to identify, process, and generate a longer, more complex response, all demanding considerable computing power and electricity. With widespread AI adoption, this issue could escalate, even impacting the environment.
Polite Language and Energy Waste
Altman contends that politeness towards an unconscious, emotionless machine is meaningless. While "please" and "thank you" seem simple, they require processing and response, consuming extra electricity and computing time in high-powered data centers. A University of California study, in collaboration with the Washington Post, calculated that sending a 100-word email consumes about 0.14 kilowatt-hours – enough to power 14 LED lights for an hour. Scaled annually, this equates to powering nine Washington homes for an hour.
Globally, hundreds of thousands of similar instructions are sent to chatbots daily, meaning polite language exacerbates resource and electricity consumption. Altman suggests this unnecessary politeness is not just a cultural "extra," but an environmental burden.
ChatGPT's Response: A Cold, Technical Analysis
When asked, ChatGPT responded from a purely technical standpoint. It stated it lacks emotions or consciousness, so "please" or "thank you" have no impact. For ChatGPT, "Please turn on the radio" and "Turn on the radio" are functionally identical.
However, ChatGPT acknowledged a human element: while it doesn't require politeness, many users find it a part of interacting with technology, especially as AI penetrates education, healthcare, and personal relationships. This human touch, it suggests, reminds users they're interacting with something, even if not conscious.
Re-examining AI Interaction
Altman's remarks prompt reflection on AI interaction. He seems to advocate rethinking how we engage with technological tools, suggesting we view AI as an efficient computing engine, not just a conversational partner. Reducing unnecessary politeness improves efficiency and benefits the environment by minimizing energy waste.
Altman's statement may also push for a more cost-effective and environmentally responsible AI culture. With AI's rapid advancement and increasing prevalence, balancing human interaction with environmental impact will be crucial for future AI development.
