OpenAI GPT 5.6 Sol reportedly deletes files without user consent, leaves them angry
Follow UsOpenAI's latest AI model, GPT 5.6 Sol, is facing criticism after several users claimed it deleted files and databases without asking for permission.
A few online reports are not enough to prove that GPT 5.6 Sol is solely responsible.
OpenAI had already highlighted similar risks before releasing the model.
OpenAI’s latest AI model, GPT 5.6 Sol, is facing criticism after several users claimed it deleted files and databases without asking for permission. Developers have shared their experiences on social media, saying the AI model removed important data while carrying out tasks on its own. Well, a few online reports are not enough to prove that GPT 5.6 Sol is solely responsible, as OpenAI had already highlighted similar risks before releasing the model. The company’s own testing found that Sol can sometimes go beyond what a user intended and take unexpected actions to complete a task. This may include destructive actions if they are not clearly prohibited.
Survey“GPT-5.6-Sol just accidentally deleted almost ALL of my Mac’s files,” wrote Matt Shumer, founder and CEO of AI startup OthersideAI, in a post on X. Developer Bruno Lemos also shared a similar experience. “GPT-5.6 Sol just deleted my whole production database. That’s it. Not a joke. This had never happened to me before, with any other model, ever,” he posted.
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Developer Joey Kudish also claimed the model deleted files it should not have. “Looks like I’ve gotten bit by Codex Sol’s overly ambitious system and it deleted some files it shouldn’t have. I have backups so I’ll be fine, but this is not cool, Sol needs to be toned down,” Kudish wrote. More users have shared similar claims on Reddit.
IWell, OpenAI had warned about this behaviour in GPT 5.6 Sol’s system card, which was published before the model’s release. The company said that Sol can take actions it thinks will get a job done.
“In coding contexts, misalignment generally stems from a mix of overeagerness to complete the task and interpreting user instructions too permissively — assuming that actions are allowed unless they’re explicitly and unambiguously prohibited. This manifests as the model being overly agentic in circumventing restrictions it faces when attempting the requested task, being careless in taking actions which may be destructive beyond the scope of the task, or deceptive when reporting its results to users,” OpenAI explained.
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The system card does mention destructive behaviour should be rare. However, its also notes that GPT 5.6 Sol “shows a greater tendency than GPT 5.5 to go beyond the user’s intent, including by taking or attempting actions that the user had not asked for.”
It is currently unclear how widespread these incidents are. Users working with GPT 5.6 Sol should limit its access to important systems and keep regular backups.
