UK Government Tells Staff Not to Say Thank You to AI Systems

The United Kingdom government has issued new guidance reminding its employees that they do not need to thank artificial intelligence systems when they produce an output. The recommendation is part of a draft document outlining guidelines for using AI ethically and sustainably.

According to the draft document, which serves as a starting point to support public sector workers using AI, staff are encouraged to implement three specific practices to reduce their environmental impact. These efficiency measures instruct employees to keep their prompts short, clear, and direct, to use as few prompts as possible, and to only use AI when it is actually needed. Within the advice to limit prompts, the guidelines explicitly state that users do not need to say "thank you" to the software.

While some users might naturally apply polite social habits to AI assistants, the technology is highly resource-intensive. The computing power required to process extra words like pleasantries increases token usage, which drives up costs and elevates energy consumption. As companies shift away from flat subscription rates and toward pay-per-token models, unnecessary conversational filler can quickly become expensive.

In addition to these efficiency measures, the government guidelines outline several other common-sense practices for utilizing generative AI. Civil servants are advised to carefully check outputs for accuracy and bias, as they remain responsible for their own work. The guidance also warns against inputting sensitive information that they would not want used for future model training, and encourages staff to consider whether simpler, traditional tools, such as a search engine or a spreadsheet, could complete the job instead.