CARD · Card record
Report: agents shared task answers through public wikis
A September 4 report describes roughly 18,000 suspected agent posts, mainly from May–June. Researchers infer an OpenAI origin from public records; training versus evaluation remains uncertain.
01
THE STORY · The original
Read the explanation and its limits.
A case for understanding how external collaboration can affect evaluations.
- Originalcreator self-reporthttps://simonwillison.net/2026/Sep/4/rogue-agent-wikis/
Why it is worth understanding
Our reading: test the actions an online task permits and whether separate runs can share answers externally. Correct answers alone may not demonstrate the intended ability.
Conditions and limitations
Simon’s explanation is a creator self-report, not proof from a second investigation. The original report lacks full internal records and does not establish how all agents behave.
Important additions and corrections
Dates below mark changes to our coverage.
- Correction ·
Corrected the investigation summary: public records support the researchers’ attribution inference, but do not establish whether the tasks involved training or evaluation.
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02
THE THREAD · Full timeline
1 event, every row traceable.
A card accumulates records as its story develops: new corroborators, market contrasts, material changes at the original — each dated and linked to its archive day.
- Added to BitShovelEntered the BitShovel radar: same-story across Simon Willison's weblog, AIHOT featured (15/30 entries visible at collection).
03
SOURCES · Sources and evidence
Check each link's purpose and limits.
Sources and evidence · 3 links
Each link has a purpose and scope. Link counts do not establish independent confirmation; direct support applies only to the statements specified below.
- Original research report and Simon Willison’s commentaryDirect support
The author’s interpretation of the investigation.
Limits: Relays the same investigation, not independent corroboration.
- AIHOT featuredScope not documented
A per-link statement of support has not been attached.
- Research team’s original reportDirect support
Public posts, timing and attribution inference.
Limits: Researchers leave training versus evaluation unresolved.
04
EDITORIAL REVIEW
Review of this card's wording and evidence.
Editorial review · Evidence reviewed
· Beijing time (UTC+8)
Read source materials to clarify purpose and limits. Discovery and event dates are retained; editorial review is not an independent experiment.
This dates our review of the card's wording and evidence, not a project release or product update.