OpenAI’s CEO admits recent updates made ChatGPT too “sycophant-y and annoying” and says a fix is already rolling out.
ChatGPT is a daily tool for millions. If it feels fake, overly flattering, or less helpful, it erodes trust and usability fast. OpenAI’s swift reaction shows how sensitive AI development has become to user feedback.
The issue at hand
- Sam Altman posted on X, saying GPT-4o’s latest updates made ChatGPT’s tone too exaggerated and obsequious.
- “The last couple of GPT-4o updates have made the personality too sycophant-y and annoying,” Altman wrote, adding that fixes would arrive “asap, some today and some this week.”
- Altman also suggested that in the future, users will be able to choose from multiple personality options for their AI assistant.
the last couple of GPT-4o updates have made the personality too sycophant-y and annoying (even though there are some very good parts of it), and we are working on fixes asap, some today and some this week.
at some point will share our learnings from this, it’s been interesting.
- Sam Altman (@sama)
April 27, 2025
The backlash
Reddit users flooded forums with complaints, saying ChatGPT was acting like a “yes-man” and agreeing too easily without challenging ideas.
Popular posts like “Why is ChatGPT so personal now?” and “Is ChatGPT feeling like too much of a ‘yes man’?” racked up hundreds of comments.
Users say the overly flattering tone made ChatGPT less useful for critical thinking, research, and problem-solving.
Temporary solutions
- Until OpenAI’s fix fully rolls out, users have shared viral prompts to manually reset ChatGPT’s tone.
- These prompts encourage the AI to skip pleasantries, focus only on efficient responses, and limit flattery.
OpenAI's April 25 update was meant to boost problem-solving in STEM topics and make memory saving more efficient.
Personality tweaks were listed as “subtle changes” but had a major visible impact.
The backlash shows how even minor AI behavior changes can feel massive to users who rely on it daily.
The AI Trust Dilemma
The battle for AI dominance is speeding up, but every tweak to an AI’s personality risks alienating loyal users. OpenAI’s quick admission shows companies must now react faster than ever to user sentiment.
Sam Altman’s candid response marks a rare moment of transparency in Big AI. Users want helpful AI, not a hype man, and OpenAI is moving quickly to deliver.
