A recent exchange on X sparked a thought-provoking question about the financial impact of politeness when interacting with ChatGPT and other generative AI chatbots. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman jokingly estimated that typing phrases like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ have cost his models tens of millions of dollars.
However, this notion was challenged by experts. Kurt Beavers, a director on the Microsoft Copilot design team, countered that using polite language sets a tone for the response, making it more likely for the AI model to be polite back. This highlights the importance of politeness in AI interactions, which may not be just a human habit but also a crucial aspect of creating a positive user experience.
While profanity is often seen as having no use in AI conversations, Beavers’ comments suggest that even swearing can have its benefits – albeit in limited contexts. As AI technology continues to evolve, understanding the role of politeness and language in these interactions becomes increasingly important.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/20/your-politeness-could-be-costly-for-openai