AI Etiquette or Environmental Impact?

Chivalry might be on its last legs, but it seems politeness is still making waves in the tech world. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, recently confessed that the courtesy extended to AI chatbots, with phrases like "please" and "thank you," is costing the company a staggering amount.

In a surprising admission during an online discussion, Altman revealed that the expenses tied to users’ polite interactions could amount to "tens of millions of dollars," a price he provocatively claims is "well spent." After all, you never know who might be listening, or in this case, what might be processing.

Politeness in Programming: Does It Make a Difference?

While this sounds counterintuitive, industry experts believe there's more to AI etiquette. Microsoft design manager Kurtis Beavers argues that utilizing polite language not only reflects professionalism but encourages the AI to respond in kind. According to a Microsoft WorkLab memo, when users engage respectfully, it often triggers a more collaborative and refined output.

Surprising Trends in AI Interaction