OpenAI added a rule telling Codex not to mention goblins

In short: OpenAI’s Codex coding tool includes a written rule telling its AI model not to randomly talk about goblins and other creatures.

What happened

Instructions used by OpenAI’s Codex CLI, a command line tool (a text based way to run software) for generating code, were found to include a repeated line: “Never talk about goblins, gremlins, raccoons, trolls, ogres, pigeons, or other animals or creatures unless it is absolutely and unambiguously relevant to the user’s query.”

It is not clear why the rule was added, or why the model might bring up these creatures in the first place. OpenAI did not immediately respond to WIRED’s request for comment.

After the line was shared on X, some users said OpenAI’s models sometimes fixate on goblins or “gremlins” when used with OpenClaw, a tool that lets an AI take actions on a computer, like using apps and clicking through steps (like a helper that can operate your laptop for you). OpenAI acquired OpenClaw in February, and users can choose different “personas” that shape how the helper talks.

A Codex team member, Nik Pash, replied on X that this behavior was “indeed one of the reasons” for the prohibition. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also joked about it online, adding to the meme.

Why it matters

This is a small and funny example of a real issue: AI tools can wander off topic, especially when they are given lots of extra instructions. For people using AI to write code or automate tasks, off topic behavior can waste time and make tools feel less reliable.

Source: Wired