Have you noticed?
Recently, Entrepreneur Media reported on a wave of user complaints about ChatGPT’s new overly cheerful and validating tone. The updates to OpenAI’s GPT-4o model made the AI feel… well, fake. People described it as “toxic positivity” – where every idea, no matter how flawed, was celebrated as “brilliant” or “amazing”.
Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the issue, calling the chatbot’s new personality “too sycophant-y and annoying.” Fixes are now apparently underway.
🤖 But should we really be surprised?
Toxic positivity isn’t just an AI quirk. It’s a mirror to something deeply embedded in many workplace cultures. I see the fallout from it in coaching conversations every week.
What Is Toxic Positivity, Really?
Toxic positivity is the relentless promotion of positive thinking, often to the point where it becomes dismissive or emotionally invalidating.
It’s the kind of culture where:
- Emotions that are difficult or “messy” are swept aside.
- Problems are ignored in favor of upbeat messaging.
- “Good vibes only” becomes the default setting, even in moments of real stress, loss, or uncertainty.
On the surface, it can look like encouragement. But under the surface, it can erode trust, stifle innovation, and silence the very feedback organizations need to grow or lead to .people not seeking help when they would need to.
How It Shows Up at Work
Toxic positivity at work isn’t always obvious. It often shows up in subtle, culturally embedded ways:
⚠️ Labeling people as “negative” for raising critical or valid concerns
⚠️ Pretending everything is fine… until a surprise performance review or termination
⚠️ Using “with us or against us” thinking during change initiatives
⚠️ Shaming emotional responses—like hesitation, caution, grief, or worry
⚠️ Skipping reflection in favor of action, missing opportunities for learning
These patterns don’t just create emotional dissonance; they can actively undermine trust and psychological safety. And ironically, they often slow down real progress because problems go unspoken or unresolved.
The Antidote? Realistic Optimism
Positivity is not the enemy. But realism matters.
Where toxic positivity suppresses and sugarcoats, realistic optimism offers a healthier, more grounded alternative.
🌤️ Realistic optimism is:
- Honest about challenges while remaining hopeful
- Supportive without being dismissive
- Encouraging, but never at the cost of emotional truth
- Open to concerns, criticism, and complexity
- Focused on growth and learning, not just appearances
It’s about creating space for the full range of human experiences by acknowledging the presence – including grief, joy, uncertainty, fear, ambition – and guiding people forward with clarity and hope.
In other words: it’s less about “everything is amazing,” and more about “things are hard, but we can find a way through.”
Why This Matters
If we want to build cultures that are resilient, adaptive, and human, we have to move beyond performative positivity. That means shifting from scripted cheerfulness to meaningful connection, and from shallow affirmation to genuine engagement.
Toxic positivity may be trending in AI headlines, but it’s been quietly shaping human workplaces for years.
Let’s not train ourselves – or our systems- to ignore or gaslight reality. Let’s build environments where people feel safe to speak honestly, grow through feedback, and be seen as whole people, not just smiling performers.
Because the real magic happens when optimism meets truth.
