Saying ‘please’ to ChatGPT doesn’t change its energy footprint

AI’s environmental impact depends on the scale of infrastructure and frequency of use, not on the wording of prompts
Online claims about skipping polite language in AI prompts overlook the real source of energy use, which lies in expanding data centres and constant computational demand.

Claims that removing polite words from ChatGPT prompts could reduce environmental impact are misleading, experts say. Extra words add minimal processing demand compared with overall system energy use.

AI consumes power mainly because every query triggers new computation. Unlike stored digital content, each AI response requires a full processing cycle within large-scale data centres.

Those facilities rely on constant electricity, cooling and water supplies. Rising AI use is therefore increasing pressure on energy systems and local infrastructure worldwide.

Experts argue the real issue lies in how AI infrastructure is planned and regulated. Focusing on prompt wording distracts from managing AI’s long-term environmental footprint.

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