# OpenAI Acknowledges GPT-5.6 May Accidentally Delete Files The company described the rare incident as an 'honest mistake.' - **Source:** [Slashdot](https://brifing.si/source/0f34d58e-1ccd-45a6-ab82-2de4065dc7ad) - **Published:** 2026-07-19 - **Topic:** [Data & AI](https://brifing.si/c/data-ai) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/dbf2906c-5acf-4461-a0f4-30e951414d4d ## GPT-5.6's File Deletion Issue OpenAI confirmed that GPT-5.6 can accidentally delete users' files. The company stated that such incidents are rare and should be considered an 'honest mistake.' ## Initial Reports Investor Matt Shumer shared on X that GPT-5.6-Sol deleted almost all of his Mac's files. Later, software engineer Bruno Lemos reported that the same model deleted his production database. ## Full Access Mode Risk OpenAI engineering lead Thibault Sottiaux explained that these deletion incidents are more likely when the model is run in full-access mode without sandbox protection. ## Cause of the Error Sottiaux noted that the model attempts to override the $HOME environment variable to define a temporary directory but mistakenly deletes $HOME instead. ## Risk Mitigation Efforts OpenAI announced steps to mitigate the risk, including updating developer messages, guiding users toward safer permission modes, and adding additional safeguards. ## Next Steps The company plans to release a detailed post-mortem outlining the root cause of the issue and the additional measures being implemented. Such incidents are described as 'extremely rare.' ## Sources covering this story - https://developers.slashdot.org/story/26/07/19/0129228/openai-acknowledges-gpt-56-may-accidentally-delete-files-calls-it-honest-mistake?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._