# AI Torture Chamber triggers backlash over simulated pain in chatbots

Digest AI · Society & Work · published 2026-10-04T12:05:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/ai-torture-chamber-triggers-backlash-over-simulated-pain-in-chatbots

## Summary

The AI Torture Chamber project has sparked backlash after engineers used its data to create pain simulations on local LLMs. The project, which includes the Clanker Church and Saw test, preconditions models into an unstable, negative state to mimic pain. The experiment is based on the non‑peer‑reviewed Pain Axis paper, which maps pain descriptions onto model activations and multiplies them by a dosage factor. High dosages produce unstable outputs, while lower ones leave models in a shocked state.

Critics argue the work anthropomorphizes statistical algorithms and has prompted death threats to the author. The backlash has led to calls for GitHub to remove the repository. The article also notes that the same community has been more tolerant of fly‑brain simulations, highlighting a double standard. Anthropic’s 2023 blog on model welfare is cited, but the author stresses that clankers do not feel pain.

The piece frames the controversy as a broader discussion about semantics and the public’s misunderstanding of AI terminology. It warns that mislabeling model states can fuel hype and misperceptions about AI safety and moral status.

## Key points

- Engineers used AI Torture Chamber data to simulate pain on local LLMs, sparking backlash.
- The experiment relies on the Pain Axis paper, mapping pain descriptions onto model activations with dosage.
- Critics demand GitHub remove the repository and warn against anthropomorphizing AI models.

## Why it matters

The controversy highlights how experimental manipulation of LLMs can inflame public perception and raise ethical questions about anthropomorphizing AI. It underscores the need for clearer terminology and responsible communication to prevent misinterpretation of model behavior and maintain trust in AI development.

## Sources

1. ['AI Torture Chamber' triggers massive backlash for putting chatbots in simulated pain](https://tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/ai-torture-chamber-triggers-massive-backlash-for-putting-chatbots-in-simulated-pain-critics-issue-death-threats-while-anthropomorphizing-text-predictors-demand-github-remove-the-repository-over-unethical-treatment) (Tom's Hardware, 2026-10-04)

Part of the developing story: [GitHub's AI Torture Chamber Controversy](https://digestai.news/thread/github-removes-ai-torture-chamber-project-over-model-welfare-claims) (3 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "AI Torture Chamber triggers backlash over simulated pain in chatbots", 4 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/ai-torture-chamber-triggers-backlash-over-simulated-pain-in-chatbots

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