OpenAI Faces Unexpected Costs Due to Polite Interactions with ChatGPT

According to ShibDaily, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has disclosed that the use of polite language in interactions with ChatGPT, such as including "please" and "thank you," has led to a significant expense for the company. In a recent exchange on X, Altman responded to a query about the financial impact of users incorporating these courteous terms in their communications with AI models. He estimated the cost at "tens of millions of dollars," but emphasized that it was "well spent," indicating that the politeness reflects a positive trend in human-AI engagement. Altman humorously remarked, "you never know," referencing the science fiction trope of sentient AI, a theme often explored in literature and film. His comments were met with humor from the tech and AI communities, who suggested maintaining politeness toward AI might be prudent, considering potential future developments reminiscent of fictional scenarios. The billing system for large language models like ChatGPT is based on token usage, charging by the number of words or characters processed. Longer prompts increase computational costs, as each interaction requires processing and generating tokens, including both user input and model output. With millions of users adding extra words to their inputs, the total token count rises, driving up operational expenses. As AI adoption grows, developers and users may need to reconsider their engagement strategies—balancing politeness with efficiency. In early April, OpenAI filed a countersuit against Elon Musk, the owner of X, escalating a legal battle that began when Musk initiated legal action against the company the previous week. The lawsuit, filed on April 9 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accuses Musk of attempting to restructure OpenAI as a public benefit corporation while retaining its for-profit model. It also claims Musk distanced himself from OpenAI after it rejected a proposed merger with Tesla, his electric vehicle and clean energy company. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges Musk did not fulfill a $1 billion funding commitment to OpenAI. Following the launch of ChatGPT, Musk established a rival AI venture, xAI, marking a significant shift in his involvement with the AI research community. A jury trial to resolve the legal dispute between OpenAI and Musk is scheduled for the spring of 2026, representing the latest chapter in the ongoing conflict between the tech entrepreneur and the AI research firm.