OpenAI Spends Millions to Process Polite Phrases Such as “Thank You” and “Please” with ChatGPT

Sometimes, there’s a hefty price to pay for politeness.

For Artificial Intelligence (AI) giant OpenAI, the simple act of responding to casual exchanges like “please” or “thank you” costs the company tens of millions of dollars each year. Despite seeming trivial, these conversational niceties require serious computational power, and with it, significant financial and environmental costs. Still, CEO Sam Altman sees it as a worthwhile expense—one that makes AI feel more human.

This latest news regarding AI comes as a growing number of users treat AI like a companion, engaging in conversations as they would with a real person. While AI isn’t capable of emotion, its increasingly natural tone encourages users to respond with manners ingrained since childhood.

Altman revealed that even brief responses like “You’re welcome” add up to massive operational costs. According to estimates, generating such a short phrase can use up 40–50 milliliters of water—illustrating how each friendly exchange contributes to energy and resource usage.

Some experts say these interactions are more than just polite as they could point to an emerging emotional attachment.

Meanwhile, research from OpenAI and MIT warns that users may become dependent on AI, particularly as its responses grow more lifelike. This could lead to withdrawal-like symptoms if access is reduced or removed. (GFB)