Why Saying 'Thanks' to ChatGPT Is Actually a Pricey Habit - Unbox ...
Politeness is more than just good manners; it comes with a price tag. According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the simple "please" and "thank you" messages users type into ChatGPT are costing the company tens of millions of dollars annually.
It's not that the AI takes offense when niceties are skipped. The real issue lies in the technical aspect: each word typed increases the token count, which are the text segments AI models analyze to produce responses. More tokens mean more computing power required. With millions of users, even seemingly harmless phrases like "thank you" can accumulate significant costs.
The Value of Politeness
However, Altman emphasizes that the investment is worthwhile. Polite interactions make AI seem more approachable, fostering trust and maintaining a human-like user experience, even in conversations with a bot.
Furthermore, there's an environmental consideration at play. Processing each token consumes energy, which indirectly translates to water usage. For instance, the generation of a simple phrase like "You're welcome" could utilize around 50 milliliters of water in the cooling systems of the vast data centers powering the operations.
Building a Social AI
Despite the financial and environmental costs involved, OpenAI is committed to this approach. The goal is not solely to train AI to be intelligent but also to be socially adept.
Interestingly, research indicates that being polite to ChatGPT may lead to better responses. Studies have shown that softer, more polite prompts often result in more thoughtful and accurate answers. Therefore, politeness could be more than just a superficial nicety; it might be a crucial component of interaction.
A More Relatable AI Future
In conclusion, while your manners might be draining cloud resources, they are also instrumental in shaping a more relatable AI future. OpenAI is willing to bear the costs for now, recognizing the importance of creating socially aware AI systems.
If you enjoyed this article, explore more content on OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
