OpenAI Codex CLI System Prompt Bans Goblins, Gremlins, and Other Creatures
So, the latest version of OpenAI's Codex CLI for GPT-5.5 has a specific guideline that says it shouldn’t mention goblins, gremlins, raccoons, trolls, ogres, pigeons, or any other creatures unless it's directly related to what the user is asking. This rule is highlighted multiple times in a detailed set of instructions that’s over 3,500 words long, which was made public last week on GitHub. This limitation is something new for GPT-5.5 compared to earlier models. People on social media have pointed out that GPT sometimes brings up goblins when they're not needed at all. The guidelines also recommend avoiding emojis, em dashes, and dangerous commands like 'git reset --hard'.
Key facts
- OpenAI's Codex CLI system prompt for GPT-5.5 bans goblins, gremlins, raccoons, trolls, ogres, pigeons, and other creatures.
- The prohibition is repeated twice in a 3,500-plus word set of base instructions.
- The prompt was made public last week via an open source commit on GitHub.
- Earlier model prompts in the same JSON file do not contain the creature ban.
- Social media users have complained about GPT's focus on goblins in unrelated conversations.
- The prompt also bans emojis, em dashes, and destructive commands like 'git reset --hard'.
Entities
Institutions
- OpenAI
- GitHub
- Ars Technica