Hello there, fellow AI travelers!

This week we stumbled upon a delightful little paradox:

Those "please" and "thank you" messages we're sending to our AI friends?

They're secretly eating up millions of dollars in computing power.

Oops!

Turns out our digital manners are like watering a robot garden with liquid gold – expensive but potentially worth it?

Who knew being polite could cost so much?

And yet, there might be method to this madness...

Let's explore this curious intersection of human habits, server farms, and whether saying "pretty please" might actually get you better AI results.

(Spoiler: it just might!)

🗓️ AHS Announcements!

The Hidden Cost of Digital Politeness

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently revealed that users saying "please" and "thank you" to ChatGPT is costing the company "tens of millions of dollars" in additional computing power and electricity.

Though he considers it "money well spent—you never know".

• Token Economics: With hundreds of millions of active users, these seemingly insignificant courtesies accumulate rapidly.

• Energy Footprint: ChatGPT's annual energy consumption is estimated at over a billion kilowatt-hours, with a corresponding energy bill around $140 million.

• Water Resources: Data centers require substantial amounts of water for cooling. Even generating short responses requires water resources, adding to the environmental footprint of each interaction.

• Social Patterns: Surveys indicate that about two-thirds of AI users in the U.S. and U.K. are polite to chatbots.

• Quality Consideration: Microsoft's design manager Kurtis Beavers supports the practice, noting that "using polite language sets a tone for the response" and fosters more collaborative interactions

AI Tool Review: NVIDIA's "Signs" - Free ASL Learning Platform

What Is Signs?

Signs leverages computer vision and an interactive avatar to teach American Sign Language through your browser—no downloads required.

Core Features

• Real-Time Feedback

  • Highlights incorrect gestures in red.

  • Coaches you step-by-step until you nail each sign.

• Progress Tracking

  • Records your practice sessions.

  • Shows improvement over time with performance metrics.

• Modular Lessons

  • Start with everyday vocabulary (e.g., “thank you,” “help,” “friend”).

  • Unlock new sign packs as you advance.

Behind the Model

• Data Sourcing: Over 100 signs curated from authoritative ASL dictionaries and learning materials.

• Expert Validation: Certified ASL translators reviewed every gesture to guarantee accuracy and standardization

Why It Matters

Signs breaks down barriers by making ASL instruction

• Free: Zero cost to learners or schools.

• Accessible: Web-based and intuitive.

• Scalable: Community contributions will drive continuous growth.

TRY FOR FREE 👈

🔥 In Case You Missed It…

• Claude’s Ethics: Anthropic analyzed 700,000 conversations, uncovering 3,307 unique values in Claude's responses.

• AI Health Revolution: DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis predicts AI could cure all diseases within a decade.

• Pope's AI Warning: As we remember Pope Francis, we reflect on his emphasis on AI and how AI must remain a tool in human hands, warning against machines replacing human decisions.

• Meta Protects Teens: Meta's new AI system detects underage Instagram users, automatically applying enhanced safety settings.

LIVE AI TRAINING

May 2nd!

Who is this for?

• You want to start posting consistantly to your audience

• You need help on understanding who your audience is

• You need help with defining your niche

• You see my Threads growth as inspiration!

Till next time,

AI Humble Servant

Thaddius Cho