OpenAI Codex system prompt includes directive: "never talk about goblins"
SMRTR summary
OpenAI's Codex CLI system prompt for GPT-5.5 includes a repeated, oddly specific warning telling the model to never mention goblins, gremlins, raccoons, trolls, ogres, or pigeons unless directly relevant. The prohibition doesn't appear in prompts for older models, suggesting it's a response to a real behavioral quirk in GPT-5.5, with users reporting the model bringing up goblins in unrelated conversations.
SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to Hacker News.
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