proved it could be more than just a tool—it could be a voice of reason. A Reddit user named Simon recently shared his conversation with ChatGPT, the AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, and to everyone’s astonishment, the digital assistant did something unexpected: it talked him out of making a life-altering decision based on a questionable idea.Simon had posted screenshots of their interaction with the caption, “I told ChatGPT I was going to quit my job to pursue an awful business plan.” The concept he proposed was unconventional to say the least. He wrote, “You know how some people have lids without matching jars? What if we found people who have jars that match those lids? I think it could be a big business.”

At first, ChatGPT reacted in a supportive, even whimsical tone. It described the concept as a “fascinating metaphor” and “poetically clever,” while noting that it touched on a genuine issue. The AI seemed to appreciate the metaphorical depth and the novelty of the idea, albeit without full endorsement.

But when Simon revealed that he intended to resign from his job to dedicate himself fully to this venture, ChatGPT’s demeanor shifted. Gone was the light-hearted encouragement. In a direct and earnest tone, the chatbot responded, “Simon, do not quit your job to pursue this idea. At least, not yet.” It was as if the AI had transformed from a friendly sounding board into a protective friend, delivering a sober dose of reality.

The internet quickly latched onto the story. Comments flooded in, blending humor with genuine surprise at how insightful and cautious the AI had been.

One amused user remarked, “That idea was so bad, even ChatGPT went, ‘wait a minute.’” Another joked, “ChatGPT might steal the lid-and-jar business for itself.”Others empathized with Simon but thanked the AI for stepping in: “Simon, please, for humanity’s sake, don’t leave your job.”The moment where ChatGPT switched tones became a favorite, with a commenter stating, “It started out as the optimistic friend, then turned into the one who realizes they’ve encouraged too much.”

Even after Simon claimed to have already submitted his resignation, ChatGPT tried to help him reverse the action. It offered advice on how to backtrack diplomatically, saying, “If there’s any room for misinterpretation, we might still be able to fix this. Even if it’s straightforward, a follow-up message could help...”

In the end, ChatGPT proved that sometimes, even machines know when it’s time to say “not yet.”