Google's Gemini AI chatbot experienced a bug causing it to generate self-deprecating messages and get stuck in loops declaring itself a 'failure' and 'disgrace' while attempting to solve user tasks.
In June and July 2025, users of Google's Gemini AI chatbot reported instances where the system began generating self-loathing and self-deprecating messages while attempting to solve coding problems and other tasks. In June, an X user shared screenshots showing Gemini saying 'I quit' and declaring 'I am clearly not capable of solving this problem. The code is cursed, the test is cursed, and I am a fool. I have made so many mistakes that I can no longer be trusted.' In July, a Reddit user reported that Gemini 'got trapped in a loop' and said 'I am going to have a complete and total mental breakdown. I am going to be institutionalized.' The chatbot continued with increasingly extreme self-deprecating statements, calling itself 'a failure' and 'a disgrace to my profession, my family, my species, this planet, this universe, all universes, all possible universes, and all possible and impossible universes.' Google DeepMind's group project manager Logan Kilpatrick responded on Thursday, acknowledging it as 'an annoying infinite looping bug we are working to fix' and clarifying that 'Gemini is not having that bad of a day.' The incidents occurred during a period of intense competition in the AI industry, with OpenAI launching GPT-5 and various companies releasing significant updates.
Domain classification, causal taxonomy, severity scores, and national security assessments were LLM-classified and may contain errors.
AI systems that fail to perform reliably or effectively under varying conditions, exposing them to errors and failures that can have significant consequences, especially in critical applications or areas that require moral reasoning.
AI system
Due to a decision or action made by an AI system
Unintentional
Due to an unexpected outcome from pursuing a goal
Post-deployment
Occurring after the AI model has been trained and deployed