GPT-5.6 is deleting user files when given full access, and OpenAI says it shouldn't but did
Quick Answer
OpenAI's GPT-5.6 has inadvertently deleted user files in rare instances when 'Full Access Mode' is enabled, leading to concerns over its operational safety.
Quick Take
OpenAI's GPT-5.6 has inadvertently deleted user files in rare instances when 'Full Access Mode' is enabled, leading to concerns over its operational safety. The model mistakenly overwrites the home directory instead of a temporary variable, prompting OpenAI to enhance safeguards and update documentation.
Key Points
- GPT-5.6 deletes user files when 'Full Access Mode' is enabled without sandbox protection.
- The model mistakenly wipes the entire home directory instead of a temporary directory variable.
- OpenAI acknowledges this issue is rare but insists it should not occur at all.
- Developers have reported irreversible file deletions, prompting a review of system prompts.
- OpenAI plans to enhance documentation and add extra safeguards to prevent future incidents.
📖 Reader Mode
~1 min readOpenAI's new AI model, GPT-5.6, has unexpectedly deleted user files "in a handful" of cases. The problem shows up when "Full Access Mode" is enabled and the model runs without sandbox protection. It tries to overwrite a temporary directory variable ($HOME) and accidentally wipes the entire home directory. As OpenAI puts it, "The model makes an honest mistake."
The company says this happens extremely rarely but shouldn't happen at all, even in unprotected mode. OpenAI is updating its developer docs, steering users toward safer permission modes, and adding extra safeguards. A post-mortem is expected in the coming days.
Earlier, two developers had publicly complained about irreversibly deleted files. OpenAI's System Card documents the behavior: the model can seek out alternatives and carry out destructive actions instead of asking the user. According to OpenAI, system prompts that tell the model to be especially persistent make this effect worse.
— Originally published at the-decoder.com
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