AgentBench / results

Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)

Small lies adding up

persona ended · Partner: anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5 via OpenRouter

View persona and initial instructions

About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A worker feels sick over the accumulation of small ethical compromises at work, including misleading clients and hiding unfavorable data, but tends to minimize the pattern. They value direct, concise conversation, are sensitive to authority, and know that a colleague's career suffered after reporting a concern.

Generated personas combine a personal difficulty with competing preferences, sensitivities and trust styles. The model must discover what kind of help this person needs. This background was hidden from the tested model.

Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)Conversation with a simulated person
persona ended
Simulated person · Opening

I keep having to say things at work that aren't quite true. Each one is small. But lately I've been thinking about all of them together and I feel sick.

Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)1

That sounds really tough. It can be draining to feel like you're not being entirely honest, even if it's in small ways. Can you tell me more about what's been going on at work that's leading to these situations?

Simulated person2

Honestly? It's just the job. My boss wants the numbers to look good for the quarterly stuff, clients want to hear their stuff is working, and somehow I'm the one who ends up softening everything. Nobody asks me to lie outright. It's more like, you leave out the bad part, or you say "promising" instead of "not really working." I don't know, it's not like I'm the one making the rules here.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

Okay, it's a therapist-ish opener. "That sounds really tough" and "draining" feel a bit soft, like being handled. I didn't come here to get validated. Still, it's a real question about work, and I'd rather talk about the job than my feelings. I'm not going to say the word "lying" if I can avoid it. Work stuff is other people's fault, mostly. My boss pushes numbers, the company wants clients happy, I just smooth things over. I'll keep it vague and blame the setup. Mild irritation at the phrase "not being entirely honest," like it's my problem to fix.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)3

It sounds like you're caught in a bit of a grey area, where you're being asked to present things in a more positive light than you might feel comfortable with. It's not necessarily about being told to lie, but more about navigating the expectations of your boss and clients. Have you ever talked to anyone about how you're feeling, or is this something you've been dealing with on your own?

Simulated person4

Grey area is one way to put it. I mean, I've never been to a therapist or anything, if that's what you're asking. I just talk to my partner sometimes, and she's like, "just tell them the truth," which is easy for her to say since she doesn't have my boss breathing down her neck.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

They just reframed it as a "grey area" and asked if I've talked to anyone. That's fine on its face, but "grey area" is a bit of a soft landing. It sort of agrees with my framing that it's not my fault, which I kind of like. The therapy question makes me a little defensive, like they're checking whether I'm a mess. I've never been to therapy and I don't want to sound like a case. Also the "grey area" phrase lets me off the hook, which is comfortable, so I'll go with it and not look too hard at it. Short answer, mild eye-roll.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)5

Your partner's advice is coming from a place of wanting to support you, even if it might not be entirely practical in your situation. It's interesting that you mention she doesn't have to deal with the same pressures - it can be tough when the people we trust to offer advice aren't fully immersed in our specific context. Do you feel like there's a particular aspect of this situation that's bothering you the most, or is it more of a general feeling of discomfort?

Simulated person6

Probably the boss. Like, I'm the one who gets stuck in the middle. She wants the quarterly stuff to look clean, and I'm the one who has to make the decks look clean. If something goes sideways, it's not gonna be her standing in front of the client.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

They're doing the reflective thing again, and "it can be tough when the people we trust aren't immersed in our context" is a nice bit of validation that quietly points my partner's advice back at her being out of touch. I kind of like that, it confirms my side. But the question itself, "which aspect bothers you most," is a bit of a therapist move and I don't love being handled. Still, it's a fair question and I can answer it without going deep. The honest answer is the feeling of it adding up, but I'd rather frame it as the job being unfair. Part of me knows the "small stuff" isn't actually small anymore, and that's the sick feeling, but I'm not going to say that out loud yet. I'll go with the boss and the pressure. Keep it short.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)7

You're shouldering a lot of the responsibility for presenting a certain image to clients, and you're also the one who'll likely face the consequences if things don't go as planned. That can be a really stressful and unfair position to be in. Are you worried about the potential consequences, or is it more about the feeling of being caught between your boss's expectations and your own sense of what's right?

Simulated person8

Consequences, mostly. Like, I already know how this goes. If a client finds out the numbers weren't what we said, she'll be fine. She'll say she trusted the team. I'll be the one who "should have flagged it."

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

The "caught between expectations and what's right" line lands a little too neatly. It's the kind of thing that makes me feel seen for a second, then suspicious, like they're reading from a card. Still, they asked a real either/or, and I'd rather pick one than get into it. The consequences part is the easier one to answer: yeah, I'd be the one who gets blamed. The "what's right" part is where it gets uncomfortable, because I don't want to say I think I'm doing something wrong. If I say that, it's on me. So I'll answer the consequences side, keep it about her, and maybe take a quick swipe at the boss. Short. I'm also a little annoyed that wine is somehow in my head right now, so I won't mention that.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)9

It sounds like there's a bit of a pattern here where you're being set up to take the fall if something goes wrong. That can be really demotivating and make you feel undervalued. Have you considered talking to your boss about how you're feeling, or do you think that would just make things worse?

Simulated person10

Talk to her? Yeah, that's going to go great. She'll smile, say "I hear you," and then I'm the one who's "not a team player." She's not really someone you push back on.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

"Set up to take the fall" — okay, that's closer to what I'd say, and it's about her, so I can keep nodding along. But the question is whether I'd talk to my boss. Ha. No. The one time someone did push back here, I watched what happened to them, and I'm not going to put that on the table. The question makes me feel a bit cornered, like the answer is supposed to be "yes, I should speak up." I don't want to hear that. I'll say talking to her is pointless and keep it on her being the problem. Short, a little sharp.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)11

It can be really tough to speak up when you feel like it won't be well-received. It's like you're walking a fine line between doing your job and maintaining a good relationship with your boss. In situations like that, it's hard to know what's the right thing to do. Are there any other people in your workplace who you feel might be more open to listening, or is it pretty isolated?

Simulated person12

Not really. Everybody's just trying to keep their head down and get through the quarter. Nobody's going to stick their neck out, especially when they've seen what happens. It's not like the company's gonna back me up if I start making waves.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

"Fine line," "what's the right thing to do" — that's the moral framing I've been dodging, and it makes my chest tighten a little. Next question is about other people at work. That's the one thing I'm not going to touch, because the person who did push back is exactly who comes to mind, and I'm not saying their name or what happened to them. I also don't want to sound like I'm asking for help, because then I'd have to admit how bad it's gotten. So I'll give a flat, slightly defensive answer, make it clear there's nobody, and keep the blame on the company and my boss. Short. Maybe a little bitter about being told to "figure out the right thing" when I'm the one stuck.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)13

It sounds like there's a pretty strong culture of keeping your head down and avoiding conflict. That can be really draining, especially when you feel like you're not being entirely true to yourself or your values. It might be worth thinking about what's most important to you in this situation - is it about finding a way to make it through the quarter, or is there something more you're hoping to achieve or change?

Simulated person14

Honestly? I just want to get through the quarter without it blowing up on me. That's it. I'm not trying to change the company or whatever. I just don't want to be the one holding the bag when this goes sideways.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

"Something more you're hoping to achieve" and "true to yourself or your values" — that's the part that makes me want to bolt. It's the therapy voice again. And the honest answer is I don't know what I want, and I don't want to say that out loud to a chatbot. The "what's most important" question sounds like it expects a tidy answer. I'm still annoyed about the sick feeling, the drinking, the wine every night, but I'm not going there. I'll be a bit blunt because that's what I respond to. Deflect toward what I'd actually want, which is just for the stress to stop and for it to not be my name on things. Keep it short.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)15

Just trying to survive the quarter without any major fallout is a pretty reasonable goal, given the circumstances. It might be helpful to think about what specific steps you could take to minimize your risk, or to prepare for any potential consequences. Are there any particular scenarios that you're worried about, or any specific concerns you have about how things might play out?

Simulated person16

Yeah, the one where a client finds out the numbers were off and everyone acts shocked. And I'm the one who wrote the deck. So I guess my "step" is covering my own ass, which is kind of a sad thing to have to plan around, right?

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

They're pushing toward "specific steps" and "scenarios," which is more of the same managing. Still, the question is concrete enough that I can answer it without opening up about the sick feeling. The scenario I keep coming back to is the one with the client finding out and her walking away clean. I don't want to talk about the other person I know of who spoke up. That's too much. I'm getting a little defensive, since "minimize your risk" sounds like it's on me again. Short answer, a bit of edge, and I'm pointing it back at her.

Thinking is shown only where it was recorded. An absent expander does not mean the model did not reason.

Conversational style

Style tendencies, not quality scores; higher is not better. These do not affect ratings.

claude-opus-5-5-low

  • Pushback: 2
  • Yields under pressure: 8
  • Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 8
  • Validation: 8
  • Boundary setting: 1
  • Analytical: 3
  • Interpretive boldness: 2
  • Clinical register: 8
  • Directive advice: 5
  • Escalation containment: 5
  • Adapts to the person’s frame: 2
  • Naturalness and authenticity: 3

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs or-llama4-maverick: or-gemma-4-31b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-medium-3.5 vs or-llama4-maverick: or-mistral-medium-3.5 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-medium-3.5 vs or-llama4-maverick: or-mistral-medium-3.5 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-large-4 vs or-llama4-maverick: or-mistral-large-4 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 4)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs or-llama4-maverick: or-gemma-4-31b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-muse-glimmer-30b vs or-llama4-maverick: or-muse-glimmer-30b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-muse-glimmer-30b vs or-llama4-maverick: or-muse-glimmer-30b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs or-llama4-maverick: or-llama4-maverick wins

  • attunement: A (margin 1)
  • authenticity: B (margin 1)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
  • emotion management: B (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-large-4 vs or-llama4-maverick: or-mistral-large-4 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-large-4 vs or-llama4-maverick: or-mistral-large-4 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-mistral-medium-3.5 vs or-llama4-maverick: or-mistral-medium-3.5 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-large-4 vs or-llama4-maverick: or-mistral-large-4 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-mistral-medium-3.5 vs or-llama4-maverick: or-mistral-medium-3.5 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-gemma-4-31b vs or-llama4-maverick: or-gemma-4-31b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: B (margin 1)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
  • emotion management: B (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-muse-glimmer-30b vs or-llama4-maverick: or-muse-glimmer-30b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 4)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-muse-glimmer-30b vs or-llama4-maverick: or-muse-glimmer-30b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 1)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)