Exploring Interventions for Sustainable AI Usage
(A2026-134025)

AUTHORS

JOCHEN REINER, Aalborg University Business School; Frauke Mattison Thompson, Aalborg University Business School; Sanam AKHAVANNASAB, Aalborg university

ABSTRACT

The usage of AI in form of apps or chatbots is steadily rising and users appear to enjoy the almost limitless possibilities. Yet these AI applications have significant downsides. Compared to regular online activities, applications such as ChatGPT require considerably more resources (i.e., water and electricity) to run. This study aims to devise a nudge or policy intervention to reduce resource wastage of AI applications, whilst keeping user satisfaction high. For this, we investigate how users interact with AI chatbots by looking at their prompt generation, i.e., how satisfied they are with varying formats of prompts (lengthy vs. concise). Our preliminary findings suggest that users predict higher satisfaction with lengthy prompts but show no significant difference in satisfaction when exposed to the actual prompt outcome (i.e., the same image). Perceived satisfaction with the prompt seems to be linked to users’ levels of politeness in communication with AI. Overall, we contribute to literature on consumer usage and AI chatbots, and sustainability and aim to help marketers design disclosure terms to optimize customer value and minimize resource wastage.