Would you ever have thought that even adding “please” or “thank you” when writing to ChatGPT could have a cost? We must remember that every unnecessary expression added to conversations with artificial intelligence increases server costs and energy consumption. According to Sam Altman’s statement, these simple courtesy phrases added to AI models cost OpenAI tens of millions of dollars. So, despite this economic burden of politeness, why do we persist in using these expressions?
Perhaps the answer lies beyond economic logic, extending to the cultural and ethical implications of technological advancements. How we should behave toward artificial intelligence inherently raises the question of how we should treat ourselves as humans. Even though AI has no emotions or consciousness, our behavioral patterns toward it may be shaping our communication habits among people.
Dr. Jaime Banks from Syracuse University argues that interactions with AI reinforce general behavioral norms in humans. Banks points out that showing courtesy to AI platforms like ChatGPT actually strengthens societal habits of politeness. In other words, courtesy shown to machines could encourage us to behave more gracefully and thoughtfully in human relationships.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sherry Turkle from MIT notes that AI feels realistic enough to make us perceive it as alive and emphasizes its social effects. According to her, AI is not a conscious being, yet people treat it as if it were sufficiently lifelike. The emotional bonds this creates, especially in children, could become a significant factor in shaping social norms. The emotional impact of Tamagotchi toys – popular virtual pets in the 1990s – lays the foundation for today’s relationships with AI. This sense of “liveliness” legitimizes polite language in human-machine communication.
On the other hand, this courtesy has another dimension. The language we use with AI platforms increasingly humanizes them, potentially making us more dependent on technology. Playwright Madeleine George suggests that showing courtesy to AI could help it learn human behavior and culture, making us more responsive to these machines. Yet she also expresses concern that this politeness might leave us more vulnerable to AI’s allure.
Alongside these ethical and social dimensions, another critical aspect of AI is its environmental impact. A U.S. Department of Energy study predicts that data center electricity consumption due to AI could reach 12% of total usage by 2028. Experts believe this will lead to increased fossil fuel consumption for energy production.
Research shows that large AI models consume more energy and thus produce higher greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, environmental costs vary significantly between different AI models. For instance, using large, advanced models for complex logic and reasoning problems consumes far more energy than simpler models. Responses involving long answers and detailed reasoning substantially increase energy consumption and emissions. Studies indicate these large models’ environmental footprint can be several times greater than that of simpler ones.
However, being aware of these energy costs also presents an opportunity to use AI more consciously and sustainably. Some researchers emphasize that the largest, most complex models aren’t necessary for every scenario, and simpler models suffice for many tasks. This could be a practical solution to reduce environmental costs in AI usage.
In light of all this, the future of our relationship with AI appears to hinge on whether humanity can balance technology with ethical and environmental sensitivity. Perhaps when thanking robots, we’re actually remembering and reshaping our own humanity. This interplay between technology and humans will be a critical test for both the future of human values and the sustainability of our planet.
Ultimately, whether to show courtesy to AI cannot be measured by energy costs alone. On a deeper level, these behaviors reflect the values and social habits that make us human. Though the price of politeness may be high, it may be one worth paying. After all, human history is filled with stories of those who understood the value of courtesy.