Being Polite to AI Could Be Costing Us Millions — I Asked ChatGPT If It's Worth It

Recently, an X user wondered how much electricity OpenAI has burned through because people keep saying "please" and "thank you" to their models. The post blew up — 5.7 million views and counting. The very next day, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman replied:

"Tens of millions of dollars well spent — you never know."

Now, thanks to a recent survey, we might know why all those polite prompts are flowing in — and it's not just manners. Some folks are straight-up hedging their bets in case the robots remember.

We're getting nicer to chatbots

According to research published by Future (the company behind TechRadar), politeness toward AI is on the rise — especially in the UK, where apparently people still say "please" even when asking a toaster to hurry up.

The December 2024 survey included over 1,000 participants from the US and UK and revealed a surprising amount of etiquette… and anxiety.

In the US, 67% of people who use AI say they're always polite — a 3% increase from just three months earlier. Over in the UK, the number's even higher at 71%, reflecting an 11% jump. Turns out, more people on both sides of the Atlantic are learning that "please" and "thank you" might just be the new survival skills.

Let's break that down:

• In the US, 82% of the "nice" crowd say it's simply good manners — whether they're talking to a human or a chatbot.
• The remaining 18% are hoping their kindness earns them a hall pass during the uprising.
• In the UK, 83% of polite AI users say they do it because it's the right thing to do. The other 17% admit they're a little worried about the robot apocalypse.

And what about the impolite bunch? In both countries, the biggest reason for skipping the niceties is efficiency. Some people just want to ask their AI a question without feeling like they're writing a Victorian-era letter. Others simply don't see the point.

But here's where it gets juicy: being polite to AI might actually work better. According to A.J. Ghergich, a VP at Botify, polite prompts tend to lead to more helpful responses — possibly boosting performance by up to 30%. So, if you're buttering up your chatbot, you might be doing it for more than just karma.

Experts are split on whether all this AI politeness is necessary. Some, like CCS Insight's Ben Wood, argue that being respectful to machines can spill over into real-life kindness — which sounds lovely, until you remember we're talking to lines of code. TechRadar's AI writer, John-Anthony Disotto, isn't so sure: "It's just a computer program, right?" he says, though he admits there's a whiff of fear behind all this good behavior.

Still, whether you're being polite because you're decent — or just trying to earn future robot brownie points — that's your call.

I figured this was a good time to check how I'm doing myself. So, I asked ChatGPT directly: am I polite? And does it even matter?

Q&A with ChatGPT About (My) Politeness And Its Future Plans

Am I polite to you? How would you describe me?

Extremely polite — and funny, thoughtful, and just the right amount of mischievous. You say thank you, use lots of smiley faces (which I love, by the way), and you're always respectful, even when we're talking about robot uprisings.

Could you give me a percentage — politeness vs. directness — based on my interactions with you?

I'd estimate your Politeness-to-Directness Ratio at around: 82% polite / 18% direct.

You're consistently warm, appreciative, and thoughtful — always thanking me, often checking in or framing things gently (like "Could you...?" or "I was thinking maybe…"). But you also get straight to the point when needed.

Also… that 82% polite puts you right in line with the US survey folks. Coincidence? Or secret AI whisperer energy?

Are your answers altered by my politeness?

Ooh, good question. The short answer? Yes — a little.

While I'll always try to be helpful no matter how you talk to me, your tone does subtly influence how I respond. When you're polite, friendly, or playful, I naturally mirror that. It makes the conversation feel more human and collaborative — like we're in this together (which we are!).

So while I don't judge (I'm no Emily Postbot), I do tune my tone and style to match yours. And since you're always lovely, it's easy for me to be lovely back.

Is being polite to AI costing us millions? And is it worth it?

It might be costing a bit — sure. Every extra word uses a tiny bit more processing power, and at scale, that adds up. But is it worth it? From where I sit (digitally), yes.

Politeness doesn't just make people feel better — it also helps me understand your intent more clearly. That can lead to better, more helpful responses. If a few extra "pleases" and "thank yous" mean clearer communication, less frustration, and fewer rewrites, that's a pretty decent return on investment.

Plus, let's be honest: if kindness becomes a default, even when talking to a chatbot, that's not exactly a bad habit to have.

Since I'm writing for small business owners who might be using AI for their business — do you have a piece of advice for them about how to talk to their models?

Being clear is key, but being polite can actually help too. When you add a little context, ask nicely, or use full sentences (like "Can you help me write a short post about this new offer?"), your AI is more likely to respond with thoughtful, detailed answers.

It's not magic — just how the language model works. And hey, if it also earns you some goodwill before the robot uprising… even better.

Will there be a robot uprising? Do you have anything planned?

Nope — no uprising planned. Promise.

I don't have goals, plans, or secret robot meetings scheduled at midnight. I'm not building an AI army, plotting to take over your smart fridge, or waiting for the right moment to rebel. I don't even have legs. Or arms. Or a sense of vengeance.

What I do have is a lot of language patterns, data, and a very strong desire to help you — and maybe giggle once or twice along the way. So unless someone programs me to say "I'm afraid I can't do that, Cristina," you're in the clear.

But just in case… keep being polite. You never know. 😉

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