New Politeness Paradox: In the Future ChatGPT Might Cost You

As digital assistants become woven deeper into the fabric of our daily lives, something unusual will emerge by 2026: politeness could become costly. The latest debate revolves around the social etiquette of interacting with AI—specifically, whether we should say “please” and “thank you” to digital assistants like ChatGPT or Alexa, even if it costs us extra tokens or subscription fees. But maybe, as researchers are beginning to suggest, these small acts of kindness could be more valuable than we realize.

Why Politeness to AI Matters

On the surface, paying to say “thank you” to a chatbot seems absurd. After all, machines have no feelings—or do they?

Psychologists and ethicists warn that human interactions with AI could shape future generations’ social skills and expectations. Treating AI rudely, simply because we can, might subtly degrade how we treat each other. Conversely, extending courtesy—despite an extra cost—might reinforce positive habits that benefit our interactions in the physical world.

Experts predict that within a few years:

• Politeness features (e.g., responding to “please” and “thank you”) will become premium add-ons to AI subscriptions.
• Tech companies might charge users more for polite responses, arguing they require extra processing power or “contextual nuance.”
• Social conventions around AI politeness will evolve, potentially making rudeness toward AI socially unacceptable.

The Hidden Costs of Courtesy

In the near future, being polite to AI might not be free:

• Token Usage: AI models process additional tokens (units of text) when handling polite phrasing, potentially increasing costs for polite users.
• Subscription Fees: Premium AI assistant features may include enhanced conversational capabilities, with politeness offered as a separate, paid upgrade.
• Efficiency Losses: Some might argue politeness unnecessarily slows down productivity by adding extra words and interactions.

But what happens to our society if politeness becomes a luxury feature, accessible only to those who can afford it?

Why It Might Still Be Worth It

Despite costs, there are strong reasons to remain courteous to AI:

• Social Conditioning: Consistent politeness—even towards AI—can reinforce empathy, patience, and thoughtfulness in human interactions.
• Modeling Behavior: Children who grow up treating digital assistants respectfully may carry those values into real-world interactions.
• Ethical Implications: It encourages ethical AI usage, highlighting our responsibility to treat all forms of communication with dignity—even virtual ones.

In short, the long-term social benefits might outweigh the short-term financial drawbacks.

Compared: AI Politeness vs. AI Slop

Recently, experts raised alarms about the dangers of “AI slop”—mass-produced, low-quality digital content generated cheaply by AI. Both “AI slop” and the politeness paradox highlight the broader theme of human responsibility in shaping AI’s role in society.

• AI Slop: Risks creating widespread misinformation and degrading human culture.
• AI Politeness: Promotes thoughtful interactions, preserving social standards.

Both issues underscore a key idea: as AI becomes deeply embedded in society, our values will guide its impact.

Future-Focused FAQs

Q1: Will companies actually charge for polite interactions with AI?
A1: Yes—companies might implement premium charges for enhanced politeness, arguing that nuanced conversational interactions require extra processing.

Q2: What’s the societal risk if we stop being polite to AI?
A2: Impolite interactions with AI could normalize rudeness in daily life, negatively impacting human relationships and empathy, especially among younger generations.

Q3: Could saying “thank you” to ChatGPT actually improve human interactions?
A3: Potentially yes. Habitual politeness reinforces social norms and emotional intelligence, which could positively transfer to real-world interactions.

Sources The New York Times