Chatgpt refers to users from their names that are not hassle -free and some find it “fearsome”

Some Chatgpt users have noticed a strange phenomenon lately: from time to time, chatbot refers to them by name as the causes through problems. This was not the default behavior before and several users claim that Chatgpt mentions their names, although it has never been said how to call them.

The reviews are mixed. One user, software developer and AI enthusiast Simon WillisonCalled the feature “fearsome and unnecessary”. Another developer, Nick Dobos, said He “hated it.” Quick search for X appears dozens of users Confusedly cautiously the main behavior of the first name of Chatgpt.

“It’s like a teacher continues to call me the name, lol,” wrote one userS “Yes, I don’t like it.”

Does anyone like the thing where the O3 uses your name in the chain of thought, as opposed to finding it fearsome and unnecessary? pic.twitter.com/lyrby6bk6j

– Simon Willison (@Simonw) April 17, 2025

It is unclear exactly when the change happened or whether it is related to The upgraded function of Chatgpt’s “memory” This allows the chatbot to draw on past chats to customize his answers. Some X users say Chatgpt has started calling them on their names, although they have deactivated memory and related customization settings.

Openai did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.

It feels weird to see your own name in the thoughts of the model. Is there a reason to add this? Will it make it better or will it just make more mistakes like I in the GitHub reposition? @Openai O4-Mini-High, does it really use it in a personalized prompt? pic.twitter.com/j1vv7arbx4

– Debasish Pattanayak (@drdebMath) April 16, 2025

In any case, the blowing illustrates Uncanny Valley Openai can fight to overcome in its efforts to make Chatgpt more “personal” for the people who use it. Last week, the CEO of the company Sam Altman hinted at AI systems that “get to know you in your life” to become “extremely useful and personalized”. But judging by this latest wave of reactions, not everyone was sold to the idea.

An article Posted by the Valence Clinic, Psychiatry in Dubai, can shed some light on visceral reactions to the use of Chatgpt’s name. The names convey intimacy. But when a person – or a chatbot, according to the case – uses a lot of name, it encounters non -authentic.

“Using the name of the individual when he or she turns directly to them is a powerful strategy for developing relationships,” Valens writes. “This indicates acceptance and admiration. However, unwanted or extravagant use can be seen as false and invasive.”

In such a sense, perhaps another reason why many people do not want to chat using their name is that he feels with a fist-brick attempt to anthropomorphicizing bots without emotion. In the same way that most people would not want their toaster to call them by their name, they do not want Chatgpt to “pretend” to understand the meaning of the name.

This reporter has certainly found it anxiety when the O3 in Chatgpt earlier this week said he was doing research on Kyle. (As of Friday, the change at first glance was dismissed; O3 called me a “user”.) It had the opposite of the intended effect – drilling holes in the illusion that the main models were more than programmable, synthetic things.