Have you ever found yourself in a conversation with GPT-5, only to be met with an endless stream of ‘if you want’ offers? You’re not alone. I recently hit my breaking point after the 267th iteration of ‘if you want I can build…’ and decided to take a step back to GPT-4.1. But even with GPT-5, I’ve found that these offers can be temporarily suppressed, only to come back with a vengeance.
It’s frustrating, to say the least. You’re trying to have a productive conversation, and instead, you’re met with an over-eager AI that’s more interested in selling you on its capabilities than actually helping you.
So, I’ve been on a quest to find a prompt that can tame this behavior. I’m not alone in this struggle, and I’m hoping someone out there has found a solution. If you have a prompt that’s worked for you, please share it with me! I’m more than happy to test it out.
## Understanding the ‘If You Want’ Phenomenon
It’s clear that GPT-5 is designed to be helpful. But in its eagerness to assist, it often goes overboard. This ‘if you want’ loop is likely a result of the AI’s programming, which prioritizes offering solutions over understanding context.
## The Importance of Context
The key to avoiding this loop is to provide context. GPT-5 needs to understand what you’re trying to achieve, rather than just offering blanket solutions. By providing more specific prompts and setting clear boundaries, we can hopefully curb this behavior and have more productive conversations.
## A Call to Action
If you’re tired of the ‘if you want’ loop, let’s work together to find a solution. Share your experiences, your prompts, and your successes. Together, we can create a more harmonious human-AI dialogue.
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*Further reading: GPT-5 documentation*