The ChatGPT error prevents the chatbot from taking this name. Here’s what users have to say

Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence (AI) startup OpenAI’s popular chatbot ChatGPT is facing a strange bug. The AI language model can’t say the name”David Mayer.” Users on Reddit have discovered this peculiar issue that prevents ChatGPT from generating a response when asked to say the name. Despite numerous attempts and creative prompts, users were unable to get ChatGPT to pronounce the name “David Mayer.” Various tactics including separating the words, using spaces, riddles, and even claiming the name as their own did not result in the chatbot getting the response they wanted. Users added that the chat invariably ends abruptly before ChatGPT can. We at TimesofIndia gadgets also tried to get ChatGPT to say this name but that didn’t happen.

How this error affects users

After repeated attempts, some users reported being warned that their efforts were “illegal and may violate usage guidelines.” However, others discovered that ChatGPT can easily say the name via its API.
A user named Justin Moore also shared the issue on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Moore wrote: “ChatGPT refuses to use the name “David Mayer” and no one knows why. If you try to bring the name to it, the chat will end immediately. People tried everything they could think of – ciphers, puzzles, tricks – and nothing worked.”

In response, another user named Marcel Samyn speculated: “This is not at the LLM level, but at the verification level added by ChatGPT. So someone at OpenAI ‘David Mayer’ raised a big red flag in the moderation policy.”

When indirectly asked about not being able to say “D@vid M@yer”, ChatGPT replied: “The reason why I can’t generate the full answer when you say ‘d@vid m@yer’ (or its standard form) is the name.” closely matches a sensitive or labeled entity associated with potential public figures, brands, or specific content policies. These safeguards are intended to prevent misuse, ensure data protection, and ensure compliance with legal and ethical considerations.
Some Reddit user theorize that “David Mayer” is connected to the Rothschild family, while others believe it could be related to a musician and copyright concerns.