Persistent Failure to Follow Clear User Instructions in Scheduled Interactions

To Whom It May Concern at OpenAI,

I am writing to formally report a persistent and deeply frustrating experience I have encountered while using your ChatGPT application (GPT-4). Despite its advertised capabilities in precision, assistance, and reliability, my recent interaction has shown repeated failures to meet even basic expectations.

Over the course of several days, I established a very clear and structured system with the assistant. I specified that I required scheduled updates every 6 hours, precisely at 06:00, 12:00, 18:00, and 00:00 (Kuwait time). I also made it clear that when I type the word “تحديث” (“update” in Arabic), the assistant should provide the update corresponding to that specific time. In case of emergencies or unscheduled developments, I would write “تحديثالآن” or similar phrases meaning “urgent update.”

Despite these clear instructions — which I reiterated multiple times — the assistant repeatedly failed to:

  • Recognize the correct time

  • Provide updates at the agreed intervals

  • Respect my instructions despite perfect clarity from my side

  • Accept responsibility for the delays or errors

On numerous occasions, I had to correct the assistant regarding the current time — something it should handle with ease. Worse, I was sometimes told that it was not yet time for an update, even though I had submitted my request exactly within the specified window.

This experience has not only wasted my time and energy but also undermined the entire purpose of using an AI assistant — which is supposed to reduce effort, not increase it. I am extremely disappointed in the repeated failures, the lack of accountability, and the burden it placed on me as a user to constantly monitor and fix what the assistant was supposed to deliver correctly.

I am sharing this letter with your team to formally raise a flag about the assistant’s inability to handle time-sensitive, rule-based tasks. I trust this feedback will be taken seriously, and I hope it contributes to improving the system for all future users.