My Take: When Politeness Meets Processing Power
I read something recently that made me laugh out loud. Please and thank you to chatgpt is expensive millions of dollars wasted
And then made me pause.
Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, mentioned that all the extra politeness in AI prompts — every “please,” every “thank you,” every “hope you’re doing well” — is costing the company tens of millions in electricity annually.
At first, I thought:
“No way that’s true.”
Then I realized:
“Oh no. I am the problem.”
Because let’s be honest, we don’t just say:
“Summarize this.”
We say:
“Hi ChatGPT! Hope you’re having a great day. Would you mind helping me summarize this paragraph, please? Thanks in advance!”
Feels natural, right? Feels human.
It is. That’s exactly the point.
But every extra word is a token, and every token = computation = energy.
Multiply that by hundreds of millions of people a week, and suddenly, “please” isn’t so polite anymore.
It’s… expensive.
🤖 Why We Treat AI Like People
Because it feels like a person.
And we were raised a certain way:
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“Say please.”
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“Say thank you.”
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“Don’t interrupt.”
And now — we’re saying those same things to algorithms.
It’s ironic, isn’t it?
We’ve worked so hard to make AI more human-like…
And now, we’re becoming more polite to it than to our coworkers.
😅 So… Are Good Manners Bad Now?
Let’s clear the air:
You don’t need to feel guilty for being kind.
But it’s worth understanding what’s actually happening behind the scenes.
Those polite, wordy prompts:
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Take longer to process
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Use more energy
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Add zero to the quality of the answer
So no, this isn’t a call to be rude.
It’s a call to be aware.
Because manners still matter — just maybe not in 200-token prompts.
⚡ What Prompting Efficiently Looks Like
Try this:
🙃 Before:
“Hi ChatGPT! I hope you’re having a great day. Could you please write me a short and catchy caption for my new eco-friendly product launch?”
✅ After:
“Write a catchy caption for eco-friendly product launch.”
Same result. Less energy.
Still feels good. (And no AI was emotionally harmed in the making.)
🎯 How to Prompt AI to Write Like a Human (Without Overwriting Like One)
Want your AI content to sound natural, human, real?
Here’s how — no fluff required:
✅ 1. Give a Clear Task
Don’t say: “Can you help me with…?”
Say: “Write a blog intro.” or “Generate bullet points.”
✅ 2. Describe the Tone
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“Make it funny and informal.”
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“Write this in a warm, teacher-like voice.”
✅ 3. Use Relatable References
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“Sound like a podcast host explaining AI to beginners.”
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“Write like a tweet from a cool tech founder.”
✅ 4. Cut Fluff, Keep Feeling
Skip the greetings, keep the vibe:
“Write a witty email in a friendly tone. 50 words max.”
🧠 Want Ready-Made Prompts?
If you’re looking for inspiration or want to skip the guesswork, check out our curated Prompt Bank at SimplifyAITools.com — a growing collection of smart, human-like AI prompts for every use case:
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Writing
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Brainstorming
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Marketing
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Design
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Productivity and more
👉 Perfect for beginners and pros who want to prompt better, faster, and cleaner.
💡 Alternative Shorter Insert (CTA-style, end of blog post):
Looking for prompt inspiration?
Check out the Prompt Bank on SimplifyAITools.com — smart, efficient prompts for every need.
🔍 People Also Ask (FAQs – with heart)
❓ Is it okay to say “please” and “thank you” to AI?
Yes. It’s sweet. Just know it’s not necessary — and over time, politeness at scale means more energy consumed.
❓ How can I write a prompt for AI that still feels human?
Use tone + structure. Instead of padding with kindness, guide with clarity:
“Write a casual paragraph with subtle humor, first-person voice.”
❓ Does AI respond better to polite prompts?
Nope. It responds better to clear ones. You can drop the fluff — the model doesn’t feel hurt.
❓ Is prompt length connected to energy use?
Yes. Every word (token) takes processing power. Across millions of prompts, that adds up.
❓ Should I stop being nice to AI?
Not at all. Just shift from “polite” to “intentional.” It’s the grown-up version of manners in the AI age.
🧰 Human-Style Prompt Template (Without the Token Guilt)
“Write a [format] about [topic], in a [tone] voice, for [audience], under [word count] words.”
Example:
“Write a playful Instagram caption about reusable water bottles, Gen Z tone, under 15 words.”
🌱 Final Thought: You Can Be Kind and Efficient
You were raised to say “please” and “thank you.”
Don’t stop.
Just remember that the AI isn’t keeping score — and every word costs energy.
So maybe the new-age etiquette isn’t just about being nice…
It’s about being aware.
Use warmth where it matters.
Be concise where it counts.
Because sometimes, your silence saves a watt.
💬 What About You?
Do you still say “please” to ChatGPT?
Are you going to shorten your prompts now?
Or are you politely rebelling?
Drop your take in the comments about please and thank you to chatgpt is expensive millions of dollars wasted 👇
