OpenAI Codex Base Instructions Update – Animal Reference Restrictions
GPT‑5.5’s base_instructions forbid mentioning animals unless relevant; adjust prompts accordingly.
Revise your prompts to avoid non‑relevant animal references when using GPT‑5.5.
Summary
OpenAI has updated the base_instructions for GPT‑5.5 to include a new restriction on mentioning animals. The updated instruction states that the model should never talk about goblins, gremlins, raccoons, trolls, ogres, pigeons, or other animals unless the reference is absolutely and unambiguously relevant to the user’s query. This change is part of GPT‑5.5’s system prompt and affects how developers craft prompts for the model. The restriction is designed to reduce irrelevant or potentially misleading content. Developers using GPT‑5.5 should review their prompts to ensure animal references are only included when necessary.
Key changes
- Base_instructions updated to restrict animal references
- Applies to GPT‑5.5
- Only allows animal mentions if absolutely relevant
- List of prohibited animals includes goblins, gremlins, raccoons, trolls, ogres, pigeons
- Affects system prompt usage