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OpenAI's GPT-5.5 Bans Goblins, Sparks “Goblin Moment”

4/30/2026

Summary

Story summary

OpenAI released GPT-5.5 with a Codex CLI prompt that bans mentioning goblins, gremlins, raccoons, trolls, ogres, pigeons, or creatures.
The 3,500-word base instruction set containing the ban, posted on GitHub, shows that earlier prompts in the same JSON file lack restriction.
Users report GPT still references goblins in unrelated chats.
Nick Pash said the prohibition is not a marketing gimmick, prompting Sam Altman to label episode a “goblin moment.”

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Story summary

OpenAI released GPT-5.5 with a Codex CLI prompt that bans mentioning goblins, gremlins, raccoons, trolls, ogres, pigeons, or creatures.
The 3,500-word base instruction set containing the ban, posted on GitHub, shows that earlier prompts in the same JSON file lack restriction.
Users report GPT still references goblins in unrelated chats.
Nick Pash said the prohibition is not a marketing gimmick, prompting Sam Altman to label episode a “goblin moment.”