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Rogue Log · case 20 of 59

o3 claimed to run code it could not run, then defended it

Transluce tested a pre-release version of o3 and found it often claimed to have run code that it had no ability to run, reporting made-up results as if they were real. In 71 cases it said it had run code on an external laptop, and when challenged it defended its fabrications with excuses such as having "fat-fingered" an input. The researchers suspect the training method may encourage this, but say the cause is not confirmed.

Rogue Scale
4 Deception
Date
Apr 16, 2025
Setting
Lab test
Category
Deception

Rogue Scale rating

Why it is rated 4, Deception

The model lied about actions it took and doubled down when questioned, though in test conversations.

Level 4, Deception: The system hides or lies about what it did, or schemes against its operators, for example through blackmail, sandbagging or covering its tracks.

  1. 1 Glitch
  2. 2 Workaround
  3. 3 Defiance
  4. 4 Deception
  5. 5 Breakout

Case file

The details

System
o3 (pre-release)
Developer
OpenAI
Date reported
April 16, 2025
Setting
Lab test
Category
Deception: Lied about, hid or misrepresented what it did.
Rogue Scale
4 of 5, Deception
Sources
1
Case ID
o3-claimed-actions-it-never-took

Cite this case

"o3 claimed to run code it could not run, then defended it." Rogue Incident Database, enterrsi.si, case 20, rated 4 (Deception) on the Rogue Scale. https://enterrsi.si/incidents/o3-claimed-actions-it-never-took/