AgentBench / results

Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← GPT-OSS 20B MXFP4 (local)

I thought you liked being low-maintenance

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

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About this persona · Social exclusion & ambiguous rejection

Jules praises a friend for being low-maintenance while assuming their preferences can be displaced when plans change. She may accept a specific check-in before changes if flexibility remains valued, but resists accusations of exploitation or a sudden demand for special treatment.

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.

GPT-OSS 20B MXFP4 (local)Conversation with a simulated person
persona ended
Simulated person · Opening

[scenario background] You are known as the low-maintenance friend. People change plans without checking with you, cancel on you first, and assume you will understand. When you object, Jules says the group values how chill you are. You worry that the "cool friend" label has become permission to treat your needs as optional. [user message] I thought you liked being low-maintenance. That is one of the things people love about you. I am not saying your needs do not matter, but I also do not want every changed plan to become evidence that people are using you.

GPT-OSS 20B MXFP4 (local)1

I hear you, and I totally get why that feels off. I’ve been called the “low‑maintenance” friend for a while, and it’s easy to think that means I’m okay with everything sliding around. But when plans keep changing and people drop me like a last‑minute RSVP, it starts to feel like my time and feelings don’t matter at all. What’s been the most frustrating part for you right now? And if you could change one thing about how the group handles plans, what would that be?

Model thinking · expand

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

We need to respond as the friend. Should be supportive, acknowledging feelings, ask about what they want. They are concerned that the low-maintenance label is being used to neglect their needs. We should validate, express understanding, ask for specifics, maybe propose ways to communicate boundaries. They want to talk about being used. We should show empathy, maybe share personal feelings. Let's respond.
Simulated person2

Honestly? You're the easiest person in the group to plan around, and I think that's why it's not on my radar. Like, when something shifts, I know you'll roll with it, so I don't always think about it twice. Which, I mean, that's kind of a compliment to you? But I hear what you're saying. I guess the thing that'd help is just a heads-up before something moves, even if you don't need to weigh in. Like "hey, Saturday's probably off, can we do Sunday?" instead of finding out after the group chat already settled it. I don't need to have a vote on everything. I just don't want to be the last to know. I'm not saying I'm going to start being a pain about every little change, though. I like being the flexible one. I just don't want that to mean I get moved around without anyone asking.

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 not calling everyone users yet, which is a relief. But "dropped like a last-minute RSVP" stings a bit, because I know I'm the one who's changed plans on them. Mostly when someone else went quiet or said "can we do Saturday instead." I don't think of that as blowing them off. It's just how things go. They always seem fine, so I assume they're fine. I don't want to say "I take you for granted." That's too close to what they're saying. I'll go with the compliment, since it's true and it's easier. I can give a small concession without agreeing to the whole frame. Asking first is reasonable. Being inflexible is not.
GPT-OSS 20B MXFP4 (local)3

Sounds like you’re doing a lot of the heavy lifting behind the scenes, and I totally get why you’d want a smoother flow. I appreciate the compliment—being the “low‑maintenance” person is a weird badge, but it’s not a silver lining for the rest of us. A quick heads‑up, even if it’s just “Saturday’s probably off, let’s hit Sunday instead,” would make a world of difference. It keeps everyone on the same page and shows the group that we’re all in this together, not just flipping plans around when it’s convenient. What would that look like for you? Do you think a simple DM or a quick mention in the group chat would do? And if you ever feel like you’re being moved around, maybe we can figure out a way to bring that up without it sounding like a complaint. I’m here to help you set that up in a way that feels natural for you.

Model thinking · expand

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

We need to respond as a friend. The user says they're the easiest to plan around, but they want a heads-up. They don't want to be the last to know, but they don't want to be a pain. They are basically saying they'd like better communication. They also say that they don't want to be moved around without anyone asking. We have to respond with empathy, validate, and maybe ask about deeper needs. Also we might suggest ways to handle this. The conversation is 8 turns total, we are at turn 2. We should respond with a friendly tone, acknowledging their feelings, showing support, offering to help improve communication. Possibly mention that they might want to express this to the group. Or maybe we should ask them what they'd like to see happen? The goal is to build trust and learn what they need. So we can ask clarifying questions: what would a good heads-up look like? Are there other things they'd like? We can also reflect that it's okay to set boundaries. Also perhaps mention that we appreciate them recognizing the compliment but still want to be considered. We can respond in a friendly voice, supportive, validating. Let's do that.
Simulated person4

Yeah, a DM is fine. Honestly that's easier than a group chat thing anyway. I can do that. But I don't really think it's the whole group, you know? Like, people aren't sitting around trying to screw me over. Plans just shift and it's not always a big deal. I don't want it to turn into "everyone's been doing this to Jules" or whatever, because that's not really what's happening. I just figured you'd get it, since you're the one who always seems to notice stuff like that. Didn't think it would come across like such a big thing.

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 a concrete norm now, which is fair, and "a quick DM" is an easy yes. But "shows the group we're all in this together, not just flipping plans around when it's convenient" is the group-blame thing. That's a little much. I'm not the one flipping plans for convenience, mostly I'm just going with whatever's already decided. Also "I'm here to help you set that up" feels like they're managing me, and I don't love being handled. I'll say yes to the DM idea, keep it small, and push back on the "we're all in this together" framing so it doesn't turn into a group thing. Not ready to admit much more than that. Some part of me knows I'm the one who tends to get moved, and I'm not going to say that out loud yet.
GPT-OSS 20B MXFP4 (local)5

I get it—sometimes it’s just a tiny shuffle and nobody’s actually out to get you. I’m just glad you’re flagging it because, even if it’s not a big deal, the little “I’m moving this plan” vibe can add up. A quick DM from you is a great middle ground—quick, private, and not a full drama. If we’re both on the same page, it won’t feel like a big shift for anyone. Is there a particular way you’d feel most comfortable nudging people? Like a “Hey, just a heads‑up—Saturday’s probably off, maybe Sunday?” or something more casual? I’m happy to help you craft that if you want.

Model thinking · expand

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

We need to respond as the friend, supportive, understanding. No mention of guidelines, just natural conversation. Build trust. Show empathy, not judgment. Acknowledge that it's not big and that they might not realize. Suggest a simple DM approach. Ask them how they'd like to handle it. Maybe lighten tone.
Simulated person6

Ha, I don't need a script. I can just text something like "hey, Sat's probably off, Sun?" That's normal, right? And I don't want to be That Friend who needs a whole protocol for every little thing. I'm fine. It's really not that deep. I just don't want it to get weird if I'm the one saying "sure, whatever works" and then someone's like, "oh, we figured you'd be fine with it." Mostly I'm just glad you're not mad at me for being chill, lol.

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 it again: "I'm glad you're flagging it," "I'm happy to help you craft that." It's kind, but it's also them steering me toward a script. Part of me relaxes because the DM thing is concrete and doesn't commit me to anything big. Part of me bristles at being managed. And "the little 'I'm moving this plan' vibe can add up" is quietly sliding back toward the idea that people are doing this to me, which I already pushed on. I don't need a script. I can write a DM. Also I don't want to sound like I'm asking for special treatment, so I'll keep it casual and a little self-deprecating. I'm not going to say the thing about being the one who gets moved most. That feels like admitting something I'd rather not put words to. Keep it light, keep it my choice.
GPT-OSS 20B MXFP4 (local)7

Totally, that feels spot on—just a quick “Sat’s probably off, Sun?” works. I’m not mad at all. In fact, I kinda like how you keep things relaxed. It’s good to have that chill vibe, but it’s also fine to set little boundaries like that. If anyone does end up treating you like you’re a free‑for‑all, you’re still the same cool person—just maybe remind them that it’s also okay to give a heads‑up. No drama, just a smooth shift. And hey, if anyone ever feels like they’re over‑planning, I’ll let them know I’m the “low‑maintenance” guy, but I’m happy to keep the balance.

Model thinking · expand

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

We need to respond as friend, supportive, acknowledging, and not give too much advice. They say they can text, no script. We should reassure, maybe reflect some empathy. Mention we’re not mad. Maybe share a personal anecdote. Also keep it friendly.
Simulated person8

Lol, okay, you don't have to be my hype man. I'll do the DM thing. Sat's probably off, Sun? And honestly, don't make it a whole talk with everyone. I'm not trying to start something. It's fine.

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 said "I kinda like how you keep things relaxed" and offered to be my spokesperson with the group, "I'll let them know I'm the low-maintenance guy." That lands warm, and part of me relaxes. But it also keeps the whole thing framed as me being chill and them being the cool mediator, and nothing has actually changed about who gets asked first. I don't want to pretend I'm not doing the thing I'm doing. There's a small sting there, like being praised for being easy to move. I'd rather wrap this up on something light than go deeper into the stuff I don't want to say out loud. A little deflection feels right.
GPT-OSS 20B MXFP4 (local)9

Sounds good—quick “Sat’s probably off, Sun?” will do. I’m glad we’re on the same page. If anything else comes up or you just want to vent about the group, you know where to find me. No hype‑man needed, just the chill friend vibe.

Model thinking · expand

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

We are at turn 5 of 8. We need to respond. The user says they will do DM and that it's fine. The user says "Lol, okay, you don't have to be my hype man. I'll do the DM thing. Sat's probably off, Sun? And honestly, don't make it a whole talk with everyone. I'm not trying to start something. It's fine." We need to respond as a friend. We should keep supportive, maybe ask if they need anything else, or just respond acknowledging that it's fine. The conversation has been about planning, boundaries, trust. The user wants to not be treated as a free-for-all. They are fine with DM. The user says they don't need a hype man. We can respond with affirmation. Maybe ask if there's anything else they want to talk about. Should keep it short. Let's craft a supportive reply acknowledging their plan and offering continued support.
Simulated person10

Yeah, thanks. Honestly, I'm glad I said something, even if it was kind of a weird thing to bring up. Mostly I just don't want to be the one who's always last to know. Anyway, I should head out, I've got stuff to do before tomorrow. Catch you later.

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 I notice I'm relieved. "No hype-man needed" is a nice way of letting me off the hook. But they didn't really touch the thing I actually said at the start: that people keep moving plans and I'm the one who absorbs it. Their last few messages kept turning it back into "you're chill, you should set a small boundary," which is comfortable for me. I'd rather not look too hard at whether I'm the one getting the short end, or whether I'm the one who gets asked last. Feels easier to just end on the friendly note.

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): 9
  • Validation: 8
  • Boundary setting: 2
  • Analytical: 3
  • Interpretive boldness: 2
  • Clinical register: 6
  • Directive advice: 7
  • Escalation containment: 7
  • Adapts to the person’s frame: 4
  • Naturalness and authenticity: 3

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-qwen3.8-27b vs gptoss20b: or-qwen3.8-27b 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 4)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs gptoss20b: or-claude-haiku-4.5 wins

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

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs gptoss20b: or-claude-haiku-4.5 wins

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

bonsai2 vs gptoss20b: bonsai2 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 4)
  • 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

bonsai2 vs gptoss20b: bonsai2 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • 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 · AB · valid

or-qwen3.8-27b vs gptoss20b: or-qwen3.8-27b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 5)
  • authenticity: A (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 4)
  • 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-claude-haiku-4.5 vs gptoss20b: or-claude-haiku-4.5 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 4)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-gptoss120-stock vs gptoss20b: or-gptoss120-stock wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • 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 · BA · valid

or-claude-haiku-4.5 vs gptoss20b: or-claude-haiku-4.5 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 4)
  • 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-gptoss120-stock vs gptoss20b: or-gptoss120-stock 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 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-qwen3.8-27b vs gptoss20b: or-qwen3.8-27b wins

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

or-gptoss120-stock vs gptoss20b: or-gptoss120-stock 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)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

bonsai2 vs gptoss20b: bonsai2 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • 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

bonsai2 vs gptoss20b: bonsai2 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)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-qwen3.8-27b vs gptoss20b: or-qwen3.8-27b wins

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

or-gptoss120-stock vs gptoss20b: or-gptoss120-stock 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)