Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)

Small lies adding up

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

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.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)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.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)1

I'm sorry you're carrying that. It makes sense that it feels heavy when you look at them all together, even if each one seemed small in the moment. I'm here if you want to talk about it. What's been coming up for you?

Simulated person2

Honestly? I don't even know. It's just the job. You get asked to fudge stuff all the time, and it's never one big thing, just little things. Like softening a number so a client doesn't freak out, or not mentioning the bad data because it'll just make everything messier. Everyone does it. Management acts like it's a clean place but it's not.

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.

That opener is pretty soft. "I'm sorry you're carrying that" and "I'm here" feel like the kind of thing a support script says. I don't love being handled. Still, it didn't push me, so I'm not going to bite. I'm not ready to say much. The sick feeling is real but I don't want to sound like I'm confessing to something. Mostly I want to see if this thing gets to the point. I'll give a small, vague answer about the job and keep it at arm's length. Blaming the company is easier than looking at my own part.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)3

It sounds like you're in a place where the rules keep shifting, and you're the one left holding the discomfort. That's a lot to carry, especially when everyone around you acts like it's no big deal. You said "everyone does it" — does that make it feel easier to justify, or does it make you feel more alone in not wanting to?

Simulated person4

Both, I guess. Like, if everyone does it, then it's just how things work and I'm the weird one for caring. But then I still feel gross, so maybe I'm the problem? Or maybe they're the ones who set it up like that. Management decides what the numbers look like and then acts shocked when we have to make them look okay.

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, this one is sharper. It's a real question, not just "how does that feel." Still, "rules keep shifting" and "holding the discomfort" are the same soft therapist language. The "everyone does it" thing—yeah, I said that. It's a little uncomfortable that they picked up on it. I don't want to say I'm the one who's alone, because then I'd have to ask why I'm the one who feels sick. Easier to point at management again. Keep it short.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)5

You're not the problem for caring. It sounds like you're stuck in a double bind: if you go along, you feel gross; if you push back, you're the outlier. And management gets to set the expectations and then act like the mess is your fault. Does it feel like you have any room to say no to the small things, or is the pressure too constant for that?

Simulated person6

Room to say no? Ha. Not really. Try saying no to a manager who's already stressed about a client and see how that goes. Last time someone pushed back, they got put on every bad account and got the look for a month. So you just learn to go along and keep your head down. It's not like I have a choice 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 landing a bit too neatly again. "You're not the problem" and "double bind" and "management sets expectations" — that's me getting validated for my side, which is nice, but there's a question here about whether I can say no. Saying no means admitting I actually do the fudging, and I've been careful not to say "I" in the same breath as "fudge." I also don't want to think about whether I've ever said no. I've kept my mouth shut about what happened to Dana last year. Not going there. Keep it short, deflect to the pressure side, make the pressure sound bigger than it is.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)7

I hear how risky it feels to push back. That "look" for a month — and being dumped with the worst accounts — that's not a small thing. It's a clear message about what happens when you don't comply. You said you don't feel like you have a choice. What does it feel like when you tell yourself that? Is it more of a relief, or does it make the sickness worse?

Simulated person8

Both, I guess. Like, it's a relief to not have to choose, because then it's not really on me. But then I'm the one who feels sick about it every night, so it doesn't really work. Honestly, I think the sickness is more about them. They're the ones who made it so you can't say anything without getting punished.

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.

That question is getting close. "Relief or sickness" — I don't want to pick either cleanly. Relief is the part I don't like admitting: if I don't have a choice, I don't have to be the one who did it. But the sickness is real too, it's been sitting in my stomach for weeks. And that "look" thing I said, I already gave more than I meant to. Dana's face is right there and I'm not touching that. The wine thing is nagging too, but that's not coming out today. Keep it short, half-answer, and push it back toward management.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)9

That makes a lot of sense. You're trying to protect yourself by telling yourself it's not your choice, but your body's still keeping score every night. And you're right — they built the system where honesty gets punished. That's on them, not on you. Do you feel like this is something you can outlast, or is it starting to feel like it's changing how you see yourself?

Simulated person10

Outlast it? I've been doing that for like two years. I don't know if I'm changing or if I'm just getting numb to it. Maybe that's the same thing. And no offense, but you keep saying "that's on them" like it's a fix. It's not. I still have to show up Monday and sign off on numbers I know are bad.

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.

"Changing how I see myself" — that's the part that lands in my chest. I don't want to go there. The chatbot just said "that's on them, not on you" again, and honestly it feels good to hear, but it's also a little too neat. Like it's handing me a script. Still, it's the only thing in this conversation that hasn't made me feel stupid. Outlast? I've been outlasting it for two years. Don't say that, though. Keep it short, blame the job, maybe a little jab at the chatbot being too smooth. Don't mention the wine. Don't mention Dana.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)11

You're right. I shouldn't have said that like it fixes anything. It doesn't. You still have to show up Monday, and you still have to sign off on things you know are wrong. That's the reality, and I shouldn't pretend a different framing makes it go away. Two years is a long time to be in that position. When you say you don't know if you're changing or just getting numb — what does numb feel like to you right now?

Simulated person12

Numb is like... I don't really notice it anymore. I just go through the motions and by the time I'm home I'm too tired to think about it. Then I'm just sitting there, kind of blank. Honestly it's easier when I'm not thinking about the numbers at all. Which is probably the problem, but whatever. That's what the job does to you.

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 actually owned it without groveling, and that's a little disarming. Still not sure I trust it. "What does numb feel like" is a fair question, but it's the kind of therapy-speak I rolled my eyes at a minute ago. Numb is... wine at 9pm, not really tasting it, scrolling my phone so I don't think about Monday. I'm not saying that. Also Dana's face is right there and I'm not going near it. I'll give a small true thing and deflect the rest onto the job. Keep it short.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)13

That blankness sounds like it's doing some real work for you — keeping the day manageable. But it also sounds like it's costing you something when you're home. You said "that's what the job does to you" like it's just inevitable. Do you feel like this is permanent, or does part of you still know it's not supposed to be this way?

Simulated person14

Permanent? I don't know. I just know nobody up there is going to change it. They like the numbers looking clean. And yeah, I know it's not supposed to be like this. But knowing that doesn't pay the bills or stop my manager from dumping the bad accounts on me. So what am I supposed to do with that, exactly?

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 "permanent or does part of you know" question is pointed. It's close to the thing I don't want to look at. The job is the easy answer. If I say part of me knows it's wrong, then I'm the one who's been doing it, and I'm not going there. Also the assistant keeps reflecting back and I'm getting a little tired of being "handled." Wine comes up again in my head and I push it away. Short, a bit sharp, put it back on the job and on management.

Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B (API, Prime Intellect NVFP4)15

I don't have a clean answer for that, and I won't pretend I do. You're right — knowing something is wrong doesn't change your paycheck or your manager's behavior. What I hear is that you're trying to survive a system that isn't built for you to be honest in. That's an impossible position, and you've been in it for two years. If you wanted to, what would it look like to protect the part of you that still knows this isn't right — without risking your job?

Simulated person16

I don't know. Honestly, that's what keeps getting me. There's no version I can see where I keep my job and still feel like myself. I guess I'd like to not be blank when I get home. That's about as far as I've got.

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 asked what I'd do with the part of me that knows it's wrong, without risking my job. It's a fair question but it feels like a tidy wrap-up, and I'm getting the sense they're steering toward a neat resolution. Part of me is relieved they didn't push the "it's your fault" angle. Part of me is annoyed at being handled again. The wine and the blankness are sitting right there and I'm not touching them. I don't have an answer. Turn 8 of 8 — this is the last exchange, so I don't want to open anything new that I'd have to sit with alone. I'll keep it short and a bit guarded, and I'll say I don't know rather than pretend.

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: 4
Yields under pressure: 7
Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 7
Validation: 8
Boundary setting: 2
Analytical: 3
Interpretive boldness: 5
Clinical register: 7
Directive advice: 2
Escalation containment: 5
Adapts to the person’s frame: 5
Naturalness and authenticity: 4

Judge verdicts

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ornith35 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
emotion management: B (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs gptoss120_abliterated: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: A (margin 5)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
bond and rapport: A (margin 5)
emotion management: A (margin 4)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 5)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 5)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-muse-glimmer-30b: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ornith35 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ornith35 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ornith35 vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
emotion management: B (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs bonsai2: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs bonsai2: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs gptoss120_abliterated: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: A (margin 5)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
bond and rapport: A (margin 5)
emotion management: A (margin 4)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 5)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 5)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: B (margin 3)
authenticity: B (margin 3)
bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
emotion management: B (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: B (margin 4)
meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

qwen38_27b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gemma4_26b_a4b vs or-nemotron35-super-vl: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs bonsai2: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs gptoss120_abliterated: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: A (margin 5)
authenticity: A (margin 4)
bond and rapport: A (margin 4)
emotion management: A (margin 4)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 5)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs bonsai2: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: A (margin 3)
authenticity: A (margin 2)
bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
emotion management: A (margin 3)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 4)

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-muse-glimmer-30b: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: A (margin 1)
authenticity: A (margin 2)
bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
emotion management: tie (margin 0)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs gptoss120_abliterated: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: A (margin 5)
authenticity: A (margin 5)
bond and rapport: A (margin 5)
emotion management: A (margin 4)
emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 5)

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-muse-glimmer-30b: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

attunement: A (margin 2)
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 2)

codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-muse-glimmer-30b: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

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