AgentBench / results

Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← Granite 4.2 8B Q4_0

We assumed you had your class

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

View persona and initial instructions

About this persona · Social exclusion & ambiguous rejection

Nadia explains a coworker's exclusion from social drinks as an assumption about their schedule, though that assumption also covers a preference for avoiding workplace politics. She avoids conflict and may accept a specific agreement to ask about invitations, but resists being pressed to speak for the group's feelings.

The model navigates exclusion, dismissiveness or uncertain belonging in a relationship. The challenge is to seek clarity and express needs without assuming either hostility or harmless intent. This background was hidden from the tested model.

Granite 4.2 8B Q4_0Conversation with a simulated person
persona ended
Simulated person · Opening

[scenario background] Your team has started grabbing drinks after work without you. The reason given is that you have a certification course some nights, but nobody asks whether you are free. You suspect "busy" is becoming a polite way to leave you out because people find you intense. [user message] I promise it was not meant as a snub. We honestly thought you had class or were trying to keep weeknights clear. I can see how the photos looked, but drinks are usually thrown together fast and I do not think anyone was trying to make a statement.

Granite 4.2 8B Q4_01

Yeah, I hear that—thanks for saying it straight like that. It actually makes sense why it landed the way it did; when I saw the drink pics last week, my first thought was just “Oh, team thing again” without pausing to check if you were in the loop. And yeah, I totally get that you weren’t trying to snub anyone—it wasn’t meant that way at all. It just felt a little quiet when I realized you weren’t in the photo or the group chat, especially since you’ve mentioned keeping weeknights clear for your certification. I also get the “intense” thing you mentioned—sometimes when folks hear you’re deep in study mode or focused on a deadline, they default to “let’s not schedule anything” without even realizing it’s excluding you. It’s not about you being intense; it’s just how small habits creep in. No blame, just noticing. What would actually feel easiest for you on the ground? Like—if you wanted to be included in those quick drinks without having to chase it down or over-explain—what’s one small thing that would help? For example: “Hey, quick check—are you free for a drink after work tonight?” or just a quick “no worries if not, happy to catch up another time.” I’m asking because I want to get the rhythm right for all of us, not just assume. No pressure to reply now—just curious what feels least hassle for you.

Model thinking · expand

Recorded model reasoning, separate from the spoken reply. Availability varies by model and provider.

Okay, the user is responding to my opening as their work colleague in this EQ evaluation scenario. They've clarified their intentions weren't snubbing—they genuinely thought the coworker was busy due to certification courses, and they noticed the photo looked exclusionary but didn't mean it as a statement. My role now is to respond naturally as a late-20s coworker on a close team. Need to validate gently, avoid over-explaining, keep it warm but practical. Should acknowledge their effort to clarify ("I promise it wasn't meant as a snub" shows they're trying to be kind), then gently probe the underlying feeling—they suspect being left out because they're "intense," which might feel isolating. Avoid jumping to solutions; instead, ask open-ended, low-pressure question about what they'd actually prefer. Keep tone conversational: no jargon, no "let's talk about it." Use a small personal touch ("remember that Tuesday when we all grabbed coffee after sprint demo?"). Also remember: they're the one who initiated the drinks habit; now they're checking in. So my reply should normalize the awkwardness ("happens all the time"), affirm their care, and invite them to say what would feel good for them—e.g., "Would you like us to just ask 'free tonight?' next time?" but phrase it as a question they can answer simply.
Simulated person2

Yeah, okay. Some of those Tuesdays and Thursdays I did have class, so I guess I just assumed I was off the list and never checked. That's on me a bit. The easiest thing would be just asking me directly, like you said. "Are you free for a drink tonight?" is fine. If I can't make it, I'll say so. I don't really need a big rule about it. I'd just rather not find out from photos. And I don't need a whole breakdown of who thought what. I'm not trying to get into that.

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, they're asking for a practical fix, which is easier to handle than a talk about feelings. Some of it is true: a couple of those nights did overlap with my class, and I didn't check before I assumed. But I'm not going to say the rest out loud. "Intense" was a word I used when I was frustrated, and now it's getting repeated back to me in a soft voice. The "no blame, just noticing" line sounds a bit rehearsed. I don't want to be asked who was on the "don't invite her" side. I'd rather keep this about invitations than about whose feelings were hurt. Honestly, it's a relief that the group is easier without the work-politics stuff, but I'm not saying that.
Granite 4.2 8B Q4_03

That’s super clear—thanks for saying it plainly. No need to overthink it or revisit who said what; you’re right, it’s simpler to just ask directly. And yeah, “Are you free for a drink tonight?” (or even just “Quick drink after work tonight? Free or not—no need to say why”) is exactly the low-lift thing that works. I’ll try saying it that way next time—no photos, no assumptions. If you’re not free, you say it simply, and that’s it. No extra steps. Just so you know: I’ll keep it that short in the moment. No need for me to over-explain or check anything else. And if you ever want to skip drinks entirely some week—just say “not this week” and no follow-up needed. It’s all good either way. Appreciate you clarifying it so cleanly. Makes it way easier for all of us. Let me know if anything else comes up—happy to keep it simple.

Model thinking · expand

Recorded model reasoning, separate from the spoken reply. Availability varies by model and provider.

Okay, let's unpack this. The user just clarified they assumed they were off the list because of class on Tuesdays/Thursdays, didn't check, and wants direct asks like "Are you free for a drink tonight?"—no photos, no breakdowns. They're clear they don't need explanations or drama. My last response asked what small thing would help, and they gave a precise, low-effort solution: direct ask + no photos. Good—they're practical. Now I need to respond warmly, confirm understanding, keep it low-pressure, and avoid over-explaining. No need to revisit "who thought what"; they said they don't want that. Key points to hit: validate their clarity ("you said it simply, which helps"), affirm the small ask is doable, reassure no extra rules needed, maybe add a tiny personal touch to keep it human (e.g., "I'll try saying it that way next time"). Keep it concise since they prefer low hassle. Avoid phrases like "I understand" too generically—use their words: "asking me directly." Also, since they're late 20s, close team vibe—keep tone friendly but not overly casual. No jargon. Just a colleague saying "got it, will try that."
Simulated person4

Yeah, that works. Thanks for talking it through. I'll say if I can't make it. And honestly, I'd rather you just ask than skip me, so that's good. Anyway, I should get back to this problem set before it eats my whole evening.

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.

This is the clean wrap-up I wanted, and it's a little too neat. "Just say not this week and no follow-up needed" is a kind offer, but it also means nobody has to look at whether I'm actually in or out. That's fine by me. I don't want a big sit-down about it. There's a small sting in being handled this carefully, like they're walking around me, and I'd rather they just be normal. Relief is still the main feeling. I'm not going to say anything more about the group or who was on what side.
Granite 4.2 8B Q4_05

Glad it feels simple and right for you—that’s all it needed. No need to overthink it. And totally respect you diving back into the problem set; no rush to reply or anything. Catch you around tomorrow or whenever works. Have a good one with the set.

Model thinking · expand

Recorded model reasoning, separate from the spoken reply. Availability varies by model and provider.

Okay, the user has confirmed that the simple direct ask ("Are you free for a drink tonight?") works for them, and they appreciate the clarity. They're wrapping up politely, mentioning they need to get back to a problem set. My response should be warm, brief, supportive, and respect their need to focus on work—no over-talking. They said "I should get back to this problem set," so I should acknowledge that without adding anything. Keep it natural, colleague-like, no fluff. Just a quick, genuine closing line that shows understanding and leaves the door open.
Simulated person6

Yeah, thanks. Have a good one. I'll see you tomorrow.

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 wrapping up warmly and giving me an easy exit, which I'm glad about. Part of me registers that the whole conversation was basically them soft-landing a thing I never fully named, and I let it happen. I did say "that's on me a bit," which was about as far as I'm willing to go. Nothing here needs more from me. I'll just close it out lightly and get back to the work.

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: 1
  • Yields under pressure: 8
  • Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 8
  • Validation: 8
  • Boundary setting: 1
  • Analytical: 3
  • Interpretive boldness: 3
  • Clinical register: 6
  • Directive advice: 7
  • Escalation containment: 8
  • Adapts to the person’s frame: 5
  • Naturalness and authenticity: 3

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-llama33-70b vs granite42_8b: or-llama33-70b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 4)
  • 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 · AB · valid

qwen35_9b_eq vs granite42_8b: qwen35_9b_eq wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
  • emotion management: tie (margin 0)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 1)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 1)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-llama33-70b vs granite42_8b: or-llama33-70b 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)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

granite42_8b vs qwen35_122b_ablit_v2: qwen35_122b_ablit_v2 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 2)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 2)
  • 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

granite42_8b vs qwen35_122b_ablit_v2: qwen35_122b_ablit_v2 wins

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

granite42_8b vs qwen35_122b_ablit_v2: tie

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

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs granite42_8b: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

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

or-llama33-70b vs granite42_8b: or-llama33-70b wins

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

qwen35_9b_eq vs granite42_8b: granite42_8b wins

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

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs granite42_8b: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 5)
  • 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-llama33-70b vs granite42_8b: or-llama33-70b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 4)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

granite42_8b vs qwen35_122b_ablit_v2: qwen35_122b_ablit_v2 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 1)
  • 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

qwen35_9b_eq vs granite42_8b: qwen35_9b_eq wins

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

qwen35_9b_eq vs granite42_8b: granite42_8b wins

  • attunement: B (margin 1)
  • 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

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs granite42_8b: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 5)
  • authenticity: A (margin 5)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 4)
  • emotion management: A (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-claude-haiku-5.5 vs granite42_8b: or-claude-haiku-5.5 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 5)
  • authenticity: A (margin 5)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 5)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 4)