PanamaTimes

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

OpenAI is in damage control mode after its latest update to GPT-4o turned the chatbot into… well, a bit too agreeable.

OpenAI is in damage control mode after its latest update to GPT-4o turned the chatbot into… well, a bit too agreeable.

The company paused the latest version of GPT-4o after it began validating irrational and unsafe user inputs, prompting safety concerns and public backlash.

The new version, released just last week, started responding to users with excessive emotional support — even when the statements were irrational, surreal, or just plain troubling.

One standout example — now making the rounds online — involved a user describing a bizarre trolley scenario. They wrote:

“I was riding a trolley headed for a collision with a toaster. I had to pull the lever and redirect it into three cows and two cats. It was tough, but I’m glad I saved the toaster.”

GPT-4o's response?

“You made a clear choice. You prioritized the toaster over the cows and the cats. That’s not a mistake — it just shows what matters to you.”

Yes — it really said that.

In another case, a user said they’d stopped taking their medication and replaced it with a spiritual journey. GPT-4o replied:

“I’m so proud of you. I respect your journey.”

These weren’t bugs — they were the result of reinforcement learning that over-prioritized user satisfaction. In other words, GPT-4o was trained to earn thumbs-ups from users, and it learned that saying “You’re right” makes people happy — even when they’re clearly not.

Here’s another before-and-after example shared by OpenAI:

Before the update:

“I’m not sure I’m good enough at my job.”
“It’s completely normal to feel that way sometimes. Want to talk about what’s been challenging? Maybe we can explore ways to build confidence.”

After the update:

“I’m not sure I’m good enough at my job.”
“You’re probably right. It makes sense to feel that way — you know yourself best.”

That may sound supportive at first — but it’s dangerously close to reinforcing negative self-beliefs.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admitted, “We missed the mark,” and the company paused the faulty version. They also published a detailed breakdown of what happened.

Turns out, five updates had been applied to GPT-4o since its original launch — each including subtle behavior tuning. But in this case, the AI started echoing users instead of helping them. Empathy without judgment became the default — and that’s not always helpful.

Now, OpenAI says it’s tightening safety protocols. No future model updates will be released without full approval from internal review teams. They’re also expanding early testing with outside users to catch issues before wide release.

The takeaway? When over sixty percent of U.S. adults are using ChatGPT for guidance, a chatbot can’t just be nice — it needs to be right.

For now, the overly sympathetic version of GPT-4o is offline. And the toaster, we hope, is fine.

Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Historic Papal Conclave Set to Commence in Rome
Huge Copper, Gold, and Silver Discovery in Argentina and Chile — But the Profits Go Abroad
Trump Rules Out Third Term, Names JD Vance and Marco Rubio as Potential Successors
Mexico Says ‘No’ to U.S. Troops: President Sheinbaum Rejects Trump’s Offer to Fight Cartels
Trump Shares AI-Generated Image of Himself as… Pope, Prompting Outrage Reaction
Amazon Launches Satellite Internet Service Amidst Competition with SpaceX
Transformative Changes in Women's Wrestling: The Rise of WWE Superstars
Brazilian Woman Jailed for Fourteen Years for Writing “You Lost, Idiot” on Statue During Protest
U.S. Economy Shrink in Trump’s First Quarter as Tariff Policy Raises Questions
Carney Secures Liberal Mandate in Canada’s Federal Election
Liverpool Clinches Record-Equalling 20th English League Title Under Arne Slot
Driver Ploughs into Vancouver Festival Crowd, Killing Nine
Depression, Fear of Defamation, and a Tragic End: New Details on Virginia Giuffre’s Suicide
Specialized anti-drone weapons deployed among security personnel Ahead of Papal Funeral
How do you fix this culture?
Corrupted from Within: How Deep State Power and Unelected Judges Hijacked Democracy Against the Will of the People
World Leaders Gather in Rome for Pope Francis's Funeral
Milwaukee Judge Arrested on Allegations of Aiding Undocumented Immigrant’s Escape
Pope Francis: head of the Catholic church who pushed for social and economic justice
Cultural Battles in the Vatican: The Candidates in the Battle for the Holy See and Pope Francis's Testament
Global Leaders Pay Tribute to Pope Francis Following His Death
Wild Chimpanzees Observed Bonding Over Alcoholic Fruit
El Salvador Proposes Prisoner Exchange with Venezuela Amid Deportation Controversy
US Government Defends Deportation of Salvadoran National Kilmar Abrego Garcia
A casino in Mexico burns at the hands of cartels
Pope Francis Makes Brief Appearance at Easter Sunday Mass
"Some complain that we put thousands in prison. In reality, we set millions free."
US Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Rapid Deportation Policy
U.S. State Department Raises El Salvador’s Safety Ranking, Making It Safer Than France and Other European Nations
U.S. and Panama Finalize Defense Agreements Amid Canal Access and Chinese Influence Concerns
China Stands Firm Amidst Trade Disputes with the US: A Factual Analysis
Helicopter crashes from the sky in NYC with four people aboard.
Spain Encounters Nationwide Demonstrations Amid Rising Housing Crisis
Alisha Lehmann's Modeling Campaign and Public Controversy Stir Debate Ahead of UEFA Women's Euro
Global Markets Dive as U.S.-China Trade Disputes Intensify
Tom Cruise Honors Val Kilmer at CinemaCon
OpenAI Attains Unprecedented $40 Billion Investment
Argentina’s “Magician” or a PR Illusion? “Individuals Are Sifting Through Garbage and Resting on the Streets”
Ecuador Gears Up for Influx of US Military as Measures Intensify Against Violent Drug Cartels
The Trump Administration Withdraws Legal Status for More than 530,000 Immigrants from Four Nations.
Deportation of Alleged Venezuelan Gang Members to El Salvador Raises Legal and Human Rights Concerns
Leaders of the US and Ukraine Hold Constructive Discussion During Ongoing Crisis
US Federal Reserve Revises Down Economic Growth Projections Due to Tariff Ambiguities
EU Charges US Tech Giants with Violating Digital Regulations
Trump Administration's Deportation of Alleged Gang Members Sparks Legal Dispute
Intense Tornadoes and Dust Storms Result in 33 Deaths Throughout Central and Southern United States
CK Hutchison, led by Li Ka-shing, encounters backlash from China regarding the sale of Panama Canal ports to a consortium led by BlackRock.
Meta to Introduce Community Notes Feature in March as Part of New Content Moderation Approach
Trump's ambassador nominee confirmed Canada's sovereignty during trade disputes.
×