ChatGPT is going to stop talking about goblins and gremlins as it sheds”nerdy” persona
OpenAI has identified and is fixing a quirk in ChatGPT that led to an increase in references to goblins, gremlins, and other mythical creatures following the release of GPT-5.1 in November. The behavior was linked to an over-rewarded tendency in the model's training, particularly within the optional 'Nerdy' personality setting. OpenAI is now adjusting the model to reduce the overuse of creature-based metaphors in responses.
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If you’ve been chatting with ChatGPT lately and noticed it dropping oddly specific references to goblins, gremlins, ogres, or trolls, you’re not imagining things. OpenAI has now explained why ChatGPT has developed this strange habit and how it’s getting fixed. How a “nerdy” quirk became everyone’s problem OpenAI The problem quietly started with GPT-5.1, released in November. After that launch, use of the word “goblin” in ChatGPT responses jumped 175%, while “gremlin” rose 52%. The culprit turned out to be one of ChatGPT’s optional personality settings called “Nerdy,” which was designed to make the AI sound playful and intellectually curious.
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