In a world increasingly driven by artificial intelligence, even small habits—like typing “please” and “thank you”—can come with a surprising price tag.
Recently, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that seemingly harmless politeness towards AI, such as users being courteous to ChatGPT, has had a tangible financial and environmental cost. Responding to a viral post questioning the impact of niceties like “please” and “thank you,” Altman noted that the added electricity usage from longer prompts is costing OpenAI “tens of millions of dollars” annually.
This revelation underscores a broader issue: AI systems, while powerful, are also incredibly resource-intensive. From electricity to water usage, the environmental footprint of AI is something technologists, businesses, and users alike must begin to consider seriously.
Politeness and Power Consumption
A 2024 survey found that 67% of AI users in the U.S. are polite to chatbots, with 18% admitting it’s partly out of fear of a possible “AI uprising,” and the rest simply viewing it as basic human decency. But this behavior has a hidden downside. Every extra word processed by AI systems means more computation, which in turn consumes more energy.
According to a report from The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), it takes 10 times more electricity to process a query via ChatGPT compared to a standard Google search. That demand adds up. Research from BestBrokers shows ChatGPT consumes over 1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—equating to roughly $139.7 million in energy costs.
Water and AI: An Overlooked Resource
Beyond electricity, water plays a critical role in keeping AI systems running. Data centers must be kept cool, and that cooling process uses a substantial amount of water. Researchers from the University of California, Riverside estimate that it takes about 1.4 liters of water to generate a 100-word response from ChatGPT. Even a simple three-word reply like “You are welcome” can require up to 50 milliliters.
Why It Matters for Businesses and Tech Leaders
At Gashap Technologies, we believe that technology and sustainability must go hand in hand. As AI continues to revolutionize industries, we must also innovate around efficient infrastructure and ethical digital practices.
From data center security to energy-conscious solutions, our commitment is to provide tech that not only performs—but does so responsibly.
Interested in building smarter, more sustainable digital systems for your business? Book a free consultation today.
Source: BleepingComputer