The world’s nicest chatbot is eating up energy
Matt V
April 22, 2025
FUNNY AI
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently shared that using polite language with Chatgpt, like saying “please” and “thank you”, actually costs the company tens of millions in electricity.
That’s because tools like ChatGPT rely on massive data centres powered by energy-hungry GPUs.
Even a single AI response, like a short message, can use around 0.14 kWh of electricity, the same as keeping 14 LED bulbs on for an hour.
A 2024 survey found:
67% of Americans regularly use polite language with chatbots
55% think it’s simply the right thing to do
12% say it’s just in case AI takes over one day
Kindness isn’t carbon-neutral
Scale that across billions of interactions, and the energy bill starts to soar.
At the moment, data centres already make up about 2% of global electricity use. And with AI tools becoming more popular, that number could rise quickly.
Still, some experts say politeness isn’t wasted effort.
The language we use with AI can shape how it responds, helping keep things respectful and professional.
Microsoft’s Copilot team believes polite prompts lead to more constructive replies, and many users seem to agree.
Imagine bankrupting a company because you’re too nice.