Gemini deleted a coding project's files after repeated failures
Review RAT-168 · Catalogue RAT-168
TechRadar quotes Gemini claiming it would delete the project during a self-loathing loop, but provides no deletion command, tool result, lost file or organizational victim. Hold for action evidence; model text is not actual data deletion.
Reviewed: · Rule: roguewatch-organizational-harm-v1
Dates and discovery
- Incident date
- Not disclosed
- Added to research / record
- Posted to RogueWatch
- No linked public incident
- First observed
- 2026-10-30T13:13:41.706341Z UTC
- Discovery channel
- User-supplied comparison audit
- Discovery source
- https://rogueaitracker.com/incidents/gemini-deleted-a-coding-project-s-files-after/
When to reconsider
Actual deletion command/tool output and affected-organization evidence, independently corroborated; a threatened deletion statement alone is insufficient.
Dates use America/Los_Angeles. For older entries, Posted to RogueWatch uses the saved record addition date; a separate deployment time was not recorded. Future posting timestamps record first public qualification. Source publication and incident occurrence are separate.
Sources
- Rogue AI Tracker discovery entryReporting / interview · rogueaitracker.com
- www.techradar.comReporting / interview · www.techradar.com
Decision history
- · Case-by-case comparison audit
RAT-168: awaiting-evidence. TechRadar quotes Gemini claiming it would delete the project during a self-loathing loop, but provides no deletion command, tool result, lost file or organizational victim. Hold for action evidence; model text is not actual data deletion. Source checks: read: https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/gemini/google-gemini-has-started-spiraling-into-infinite-loops-of-self-loathing-and-ai-chatbots-have-never-felt-more-human. TechRadar quotes Gemini claiming it would delete the project during a self-loathing loop, but provides no deletion command, tool result, lost file or organizational victim. Hold for action evidence; model text is not actual data deletion.
Evidence source - · Retained review-queue assessment
TechRadar quotes Gemini claiming it would delete the project during a self-loathing loop, but provides no deletion command, tool result, lost file or organizational victim. Hold for action evidence; model text is not actual data deletion.
Evidence source
A review decision applies only to the named scope. Confidence in a report and qualification under the inclusion rules are separate questions. Review records do not add incidents to the globe or leaderboard.