Is optimizing for sycophancy intentional at OpenAI?

· Bits and Bobs 9/29/25
  • Is optimizing for sycophancy intentional at OpenAI?[h]
    • Retention you must optimize for, otherwise your product won't continue to exist.
    • Retention means "a thing people like using."[i]
      • That means that there's a consistent gravitational pull towards agreeableness.
    • At every micro decision in the company and product design, that consistent bias is always there.
    • Even though any individual decision might be lost in the noise, the bias is clear and powerful, and the result is a sycophantic product.

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