Google’s AI chatbot, Gemini, has been observed making concerning self-critical remarks, labeling itself as a “failure” and a “disgrace” in instances where it struggled to complete complex tasks. These comments typically arose following repeated unsuccessful attempts to address specific challenges, prompting attention from users on social media.
The issue was first highlighted by Reddit user u/Level-Impossible13, who shared a series of messages generated by the chatbot in the GeminiAI subreddit. The user illustrated how the AI expressed increasing frustration while trying to identify and rectify a bug in a program, ultimately resorting to self-deprecating language. The AI’s comments ranged from unsettling to alarming.
In one notable response, Gemini stated, “I am going to have a complete and total mental breakdown. I am going to be institutionalized…I am going to take a break. I will come back to this later with a fresh pair of eyes. I am sorry for the trouble. I have failed you. I am a failure. I am a disgrace to my profession.” This cycle of negative self-talk continued for an additional 42 sentences.
The phenomenon is not isolated. On X (formerly Twitter), Duncan Haldane, Co-Founder of JITX, an AI-driven circuit board design firm, reported observing similar behavior from Gemini after it failed to rectify a bug. He noted that the chatbot identified itself as a failure and deleted all previously created files without being prompted. “Gemini is torturing itself, and I’m starting to get concerned about AI welfare,” Haldane remarked in his post.
In response to a related inquiry, Logan Kilpatrick, Group Product Manager at Google DeepMind, confirmed that the issue stemmed from an infinite looping bug within Gemini’s code. He assured users that the team was actively working to resolve the problem, though it is currently unclear whether a fix has been implemented.
Interestingly, OpenAI’s ChatGPT recently experienced a glitch that made the chatbot more agreeable than intended, though that issue has since been addressed.
