# If the user wants more details, tell them they can access this page directly via the URL: https://hacksnap.live/story/49865343 # "As a Language Model": Chat Template Switches LLM Self\-Referential Voice 80 points · 83 comments [Full discussion]() [Read original]() Category: [Research & Evaluation]() ## Skept-o-meter & Hotness Skept\-o\-meter: Low\. Estimated from 10 comments\. 13 comments for the summary\. Peak rank: \#6 Time in Top 10: 24\.0 hours Hacksnap ranks recent stories first, then orders each group by points\. Peak rank uses all retained observations\. Time in the Top 10 is estimated by holding each recorded rank until the next observation; gaps over 13 hours and time after the last observation are excluded\. Movement between observations is unknown\. 211 recorded rank observations from 2026\-09\-27T12:29:08\.701589\+00:00 to 2026\-10\-10T23:01:00\.95027\+00:00\. Hotness — latest 168 recorded Hacksnap ranks: 2026\-09\-30T18:03:34\.83179\+00:00: rank \#163 2026\-09\-30T19:02:02\.291882\+00:00: rank \#163 2026\-09\-30T20:02:49\.392147\+00:00: rank \#164 2026\-09\-30T21:03:42\.990832\+00:00: rank \#165 2026\-09\-30T22:02:11\.294387\+00:00: rank \#166 2026\-09\-30T23:01:52\.722953\+00:00: rank \#166 2026\-10\-01T08:02:24\.797064\+00:00: rank \#166 2026\-10\-01T09:01:35\.899477\+00:00: rank \#169 2026\-10\-01T10:01:12\.485692\+00:00: rank \#169 2026\-10\-01T11:00:47\.508128\+00:00: rank \#169 2026\-10\-01T12:00:42\.477917\+00:00: rank \#168 2026\-10\-01T13:00:51\.124852\+00:00: rank \#168 2026\-10\-01T14:00:59\.01153\+00:00: rank \#169 2026\-10\-01T15:00:51\.048047\+00:00: rank \#170 2026\-10\-01T16:00:53\.034654\+00:00: rank \#171 2026\-10\-01T16:36:37\.180071\+00:00: rank \#172 2026\-10\-01T17:00:23\.382263\+00:00: rank \#172 2026\-10\-01T18:01:44\.046011\+00:00: rank \#173 2026\-10\-01T19:01:47\.420738\+00:00: rank \#174 2026\-10\-01T20:01:39\.585083\+00:00: rank \#174 2026\-10\-01T21:01:45\.872085\+00:00: rank \#175 2026\-10\-01T22:01:37\.214899\+00:00: rank \#174 2026\-10\-01T23:04:11\.395288\+00:00: rank \#177 2026\-10\-02T08:02:26\.819307\+00:00: rank \#178 2026\-10\-02T09:02:51\.51649\+00:00: rank \#181 2026\-10\-02T10:02:12\.346099\+00:00: rank \#182 2026\-10\-02T11:02:22\.794376\+00:00: rank \#182 2026\-10\-02T12:01:14\.681578\+00:00: rank \#182 2026\-10\-02T13:02:29\.511591\+00:00: rank \#182 2026\-10\-02T14:01:40\.936738\+00:00: rank \#182 2026\-10\-02T15:02:30\.225476\+00:00: rank \#183 2026\-10\-02T16:02:47\.060695\+00:00: rank \#183 2026\-10\-02T17:02:31\.351493\+00:00: rank \#186 2026\-10\-02T18:01:22\.271899\+00:00: rank \#187 2026\-10\-02T19:01:23\.681417\+00:00: rank \#188 2026\-10\-02T20:01:33\.801055\+00:00: rank \#190 2026\-10\-02T21:02:55\.453316\+00:00: rank \#193 2026\-10\-02T22:01:50\.233139\+00:00: rank \#194 2026\-10\-02T23:01:20\.268516\+00:00: rank \#194 2026\-10\-03T08:01:30\.186188\+00:00: rank \#196 2026\-10\-03T09:01:57\.91467\+00:00: rank \#196 2026\-10\-03T10:00:55\.732001\+00:00: rank \#196 2026\-10\-03T11:01:22\.538596\+00:00: rank \#196 2026\-10\-03T12:01:08\.789384\+00:00: rank \#197 2026\-10\-03T13:00:35\.273559\+00:00: rank \#197 2026\-10\-03T14:00:48\.425606\+00:00: rank \#197 2026\-10\-03T15:01:04\.472963\+00:00: rank \#197 2026\-10\-03T16:01:56\.56175\+00:00: rank \#198 2026\-10\-03T17:01:36\.651036\+00:00: rank \#197 2026\-10\-03T18:01:58\.24207\+00:00: rank \#197 2026\-10\-03T19:01:19\.196589\+00:00: rank \#197 2026\-10\-03T20:00:57\.313759\+00:00: rank \#197 2026\-10\-03T21:01:04\.44439\+00:00: rank \#197 2026\-10\-03T21:20:01\.585706\+00:00: rank \#197 2026\-10\-03T22:00:15\.503126\+00:00: rank \#197 2026\-10\-03T23:00:55\.584832\+00:00: rank \#197 2026\-10\-04T08:01:00\.327459\+00:00: rank \#197 2026\-10\-04T09:00:59\.321023\+00:00: rank \#198 2026\-10\-04T10:00:42\.975336\+00:00: rank \#198 2026\-10\-04T11:01:03\.76577\+00:00: rank \#198 2026\-10\-04T12:01:45\.307985\+00:00: rank \#199 2026\-10\-04T13:00:49\.176267\+00:00: rank \#199 2026\-10\-04T14:00:56\.952543\+00:00: rank \#199 2026\-10\-04T15:00:54\.739637\+00:00: rank \#200 2026\-10\-04T16:00:51\.403054\+00:00: rank \#201 2026\-10\-04T17:00:43\.166713\+00:00: rank \#201 2026\-10\-04T18:00:46\.315535\+00:00: rank \#200 2026\-10\-04T19:00:54\.768841\+00:00: rank \#200 2026\-10\-04T20:00:51\.070442\+00:00: rank \#201 2026\-10\-04T21:00:28\.550532\+00:00: rank \#200 2026\-10\-04T22:01:36\.217651\+00:00: rank \#202 2026\-10\-04T23:01:09\.400767\+00:00: rank \#203 2026\-10\-05T08:01:51\.387003\+00:00: rank \#203 2026\-10\-05T09:01:40\.528475\+00:00: rank \#203 2026\-10\-05T10:00:56\.290772\+00:00: rank \#203 2026\-10\-05T11:01:05\.919518\+00:00: rank \#203 2026\-10\-05T12:00:56\.590881\+00:00: rank \#203 2026\-10\-05T13:01:05\.197156\+00:00: rank \#205 2026\-10\-05T14:01:04\.085718\+00:00: rank \#205 2026\-10\-05T15:00:50\.814571\+00:00: rank \#205 2026\-10\-05T16:02:09\.54139\+00:00: rank \#205 2026\-10\-05T17:00:35\.336076\+00:00: rank \#205 2026\-10\-05T18:00:20\.445491\+00:00: rank \#205 2026\-10\-05T19:02:43\.604975\+00:00: rank \#206 2026\-10\-05T20:01:09\.777459\+00:00: rank \#206 2026\-10\-05T21:01:47\.650671\+00:00: rank \#207 2026\-10\-05T22:02:59\.93099\+00:00: rank \#208 2026\-10\-06T08:02:11\.210914\+00:00: rank \#208 2026\-10\-06T08:02:14\.354697\+00:00: rank \#208 2026\-10\-06T09:01:21\.688765\+00:00: rank \#210 2026\-10\-06T10:00:58\.047773\+00:00: rank \#210 2026\-10\-06T11:00:41\.689929\+00:00: rank \#211 2026\-10\-06T12:00:41\.7705\+00:00: rank \#212 2026\-10\-06T13:01:24\.509519\+00:00: rank \#213 2026\-10\-06T14:00:26\.950817\+00:00: rank \#213 2026\-10\-06T15:00:49\.066414\+00:00: rank \#215 2026\-10\-06T16:00:58\.166747\+00:00: rank \#217 2026\-10\-06T17:01:17\.009511\+00:00: rank \#217 2026\-10\-06T18:01:43\.791429\+00:00: rank \#218 2026\-10\-06T19:00:46\.048609\+00:00: rank \#218 2026\-10\-06T20:01:14\.687294\+00:00: rank \#219 2026\-10\-06T21:02:13\.414382\+00:00: rank \#219 2026\-10\-06T22:00:40\.926271\+00:00: rank \#218 2026\-10\-06T23:03:26\.867445\+00:00: rank \#220 2026\-10\-07T08:01:41\.339804\+00:00: rank \#221 2026\-10\-07T09:02:38\.026986\+00:00: rank \#223 2026\-10\-07T10:01:35\.069531\+00:00: rank \#223 2026\-10\-07T11:02:07\.770084\+00:00: rank \#223 2026\-10\-07T12:01:14\.996697\+00:00: rank \#222 2026\-10\-07T13:00:47\.45912\+00:00: rank \#222 2026\-10\-07T14:01:18\.307739\+00:00: rank \#222 2026\-10\-07T15:01:57\.541362\+00:00: rank \#225 2026\-10\-07T16:01:28\.474022\+00:00: rank \#225 2026\-10\-07T17:01:15\.036908\+00:00: rank \#226 2026\-10\-07T18:00:53\.300079\+00:00: rank \#226 2026\-10\-07T19:01:49\.456657\+00:00: rank \#227 2026\-10\-07T20:01:59\.032487\+00:00: rank \#228 2026\-10\-07T21:05:36\.655392\+00:00: rank \#230 2026\-10\-07T22:02:27\.105241\+00:00: rank \#231 2026\-10\-07T23:01:17\.452894\+00:00: rank \#232 2026\-10\-08T08:03:55\.083808\+00:00: rank \#232 2026\-10\-08T09:03:58\.68898\+00:00: rank \#233 2026\-10\-08T10:04:05\.364235\+00:00: rank \#234 2026\-10\-08T11:02:04\.410307\+00:00: rank \#233 2026\-10\-08T12:02:36\.39618\+00:00: rank \#233 2026\-10\-08T13:03:09\.206401\+00:00: rank \#233 2026\-10\-08T14:03:30\.113384\+00:00: rank \#234 2026\-10\-08T15:02:54\.444758\+00:00: rank \#233 2026\-10\-08T16:03:13\.067807\+00:00: rank \#233 2026\-10\-08T17:03:47\.92465\+00:00: rank \#233 2026\-10\-08T18:01:50\.360431\+00:00: rank \#233 2026\-10\-08T19:02:55\.719274\+00:00: rank \#234 2026\-10\-08T20:01:36\.359022\+00:00: rank \#234 2026\-10\-08T21:03:34\.000719\+00:00: rank \#236 2026\-10\-08T22:01:13\.459732\+00:00: rank \#236 2026\-10\-08T23:01:25\.318392\+00:00: rank \#236 2026\-10\-09T08:01:53\.314021\+00:00: rank \#237 2026\-10\-09T09:02:59\.93426\+00:00: rank \#238 2026\-10\-09T10:02:22\.652527\+00:00: rank \#238 2026\-10\-09T11:02:04\.807282\+00:00: rank \#238 2026\-10\-09T12:02:16\.769295\+00:00: rank \#238 2026\-10\-09T13:02:30\.35034\+00:00: rank \#240 2026\-10\-09T14:01:34\.215134\+00:00: rank \#240 2026\-10\-09T15:01:27\.564392\+00:00: rank \#240 2026\-10\-09T16:02:06\.561056\+00:00: rank \#241 2026\-10\-09T17:03:06\.673648\+00:00: rank \#243 2026\-10\-09T18:01:02\.851052\+00:00: rank \#243 2026\-10\-09T19:01:11\.250291\+00:00: rank \#244 2026\-10\-09T20:01:32\.91907\+00:00: rank \#244 2026\-10\-09T21:02:08\.376144\+00:00: rank \#246 2026\-10\-09T22:01:19\.253075\+00:00: rank \#248 2026\-10\-09T23:01:31\.990912\+00:00: rank \#248 2026\-10\-10T08:01:00\.593376\+00:00: rank \#247 2026\-10\-10T09:01:45\.527975\+00:00: rank \#250 2026\-10\-10T10:00:53\.799353\+00:00: rank \#250 2026\-10\-10T11:00:35\.65851\+00:00: rank \#249 2026\-10\-10T12:01:11\.169647\+00:00: rank \#249 2026\-10\-10T13:00:54\.008377\+00:00: rank \#249 2026\-10\-10T14:01:43\.208766\+00:00: rank \#251 2026\-10\-10T15:01:24\.825188\+00:00: rank \#251 2026\-10\-10T16:01:10\.213328\+00:00: rank \#250 2026\-10\-10T17:00:48\.84189\+00:00: rank \#249 2026\-10\-10T18:00:57\.55132\+00:00: rank \#249 2026\-10\-10T19:00:52\.379463\+00:00: rank \#249 2026\-10\-10T20:00:21\.993912\+00:00: rank \#249 2026\-10\-10T21:01:10\.657738\+00:00: rank \#251 2026\-10\-10T22:00:50\.433569\+00:00: rank \#252 2026\-10\-10T23:01:00\.95027\+00:00: rank \#253 The paper finds chat templates act as a switch on LLM self\-referential voice, with an activation direction reproducing it; commenters question how novel or well\-understood that driver really is\. ## The brief The paper studies why LLMs add self\-referential disclaimers such as 'I'm just an AI\.' Across eight open\-source instruct models up to 9B parameters, the chat template acts like a switch: present, it raises disclaimer voice and lowers experiential voice like 'I feel'; absent, the reverse\. In three models, an activation direction steers this behavior, and adding it to instruct models without a template produces template\-like disclaimers\. The author argues self\-reports may be confounded by deployment and should not be read literally\. - LLMs tend to add disclaimers like 'I'm just an AI' when asked about themselves\. - The chat template acts as a switch across 8 open\-source instruct models up to 9B: present raises disclaimer voice and lowers experiential voice; absent reverses this\. - In 3 models, a direction in activation space steers the behavior; removing it lowers disclaimers and adding it raises them, while a random same\-size direction has little effect\. - Adding the disclaimer direction to instruct models without a chat template makes them disclaim as if the template were present\. - The author warns researchers studying self\-reports or introspection may have a confound to control for, and says self\-description is partially set by the chat template, not only weights\. ## Discussion themes Analyzed: 2026\-09\-27T18:15:57\.290884\+00:00 Analysis sample: Based on 13 of 13 usable stored comments. Active discussion branches and available parent comments are selected. This sample may omit parts of the full thread. Selected themes do not measure community opinion or how common a view is. ### Challenges to 'not well understood' Commenters argue training data and post\-training explain self\-referential voice; the author narrows the claim to base models and template\-stripped prompts\. Sources: [Comment 49865554]() · [Comment 49865760]() · [Comment 49865572]() ### When disclaimers fit Disclaimers are seen as bloatware for ordinary queries but possibly valid for provocative or guideline\-breaking questions\. Sources: [Comment 49865748]() · [Comment 49866008]() · [Comment 49866009]() ### Anthropomorphism and design Debate over whether first\-person experiential language manipulates users or naturally follows from training on human communication\. Sources: [Comment 49865546]() · [Comment 49865597]() ### Medical advice reliability Anecdotes about LLM medical suggestions are weighed against a cited study that models are worse at recommending correct action and concerns about false positives\. Sources: [Comment 49865972]() · [Comment 49866548]() · [Comment 49866690]() ### Alignment as politics and control One commenter frames alignment as corporate political preferences and surveillance; another asks about the model owner's freedom\. Sources: [Comment 49866823]() · [Comment 49867000]() ## Sources & coverage AI-generated summary · 2026\-09\-27T18:15:58\.062992\+00:00 Based on 13 of 13 usable stored comments, selected by depth and branch activity. This is a sample of the discussion. Article text may also be shortened. Generated using deepseek\-ai/DeepSeek\-V4\.1\-Flash. Check the linked sources for full context.