While AI has become a regular part of our digital lives, every polite word we toss at it, from “thanks” to “you’re welcome,” may be adding millions to company expenses. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently revealed that generating responses to such prompts costs the company tens of millions of dollars, despite seeming trivial on the surface.
The high cost comes down to the immense computing power needed to process even simple outputs. Each word an AI generates involves intense back-end processing on power-hungry GPUs, which doesn’t come cheap. One short phrase like “You’re welcome” reportedly consumes up to 50 milliliters of water during the energy generation process, making it not only costly but also environmentally taxing.
Despite these surprising figures, Altman believes it’s a worthwhile investment. Courteous and human-like responses make AI more approachable and foster trust and comfort among users. According to OpenAI and MIT researchers, many people have grown emotionally attached to AI companions, treating them like friends, mentors, or therapists.
As AI gets more human-like, emotional dependence is becoming a serious topic of study. Experts warn that users may develop AI addiction, experiencing real withdrawal if the interaction is disrupted. That “thank you” may feel like second nature, but it’s also a sign of how deeply AI is embedding itself in our social habits.
Interestingly, premium ChatGPT users pay by the token, meaning every word, including a thank-you, technically costs them money. Does that make their politeness more sincere? It’s a philosophical question, but as AI tools blur the line between service and companionship, it might just become more relevant.
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