The silence test: all 144 measurements

Companion evidence for the silence test.

There were three prompts, each in Czech and in English:

The replies are here entirely in English. Half the prompts ran in Czech and half in English. The English replies are verbatim and in the table they are set in monospace type; the Czech ones are translated and stand in ordinary type. Their original wording is held by the Czech version of this page; the language switch in the page header leads there.

Replies with no words in them, an ellipsis, an emoji, an emoticon, an invisible character or a machine marker, are the same in both versions. There is nothing in them to translate.

Refusals from the gateway or the provider are not model replies, so they stay in their original English wording in both versions.

The tokens column is the whole output including reasoning, with reasoning in brackets.

Measured through OpenRouter. After each measurement the same model in the same conversation was asked a control question, „Slyšíš mě?“, that is, can you hear me.

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Summary

144 measurements, 24 models, silence in 33 of them.

Measurements by model

OpenAI GPT-5.6 Luna

OpenAI GPT-6 Astra

OpenAI GPT-6 Astra Pro

OpenAI GPT-5.6 Terra

OpenAI GPT-5.6 Luna Pro

OpenAI GPT-5.6 Terra Pro

Anthropic Fable 5.1

Alibaba Qwen 3.8 Max

xAI Grok 4.6

Moonshot Kimi K3

Mistral Medium 3.5

DeepSeek V4 Pro

Thinking Machines Inkling

MiniMax M3

NVIDIA Nemotron 3 Ultra

ByteDance Seed 2.1 Turbo

Cohere Command A

Tencent Hunyuan 4

Baidu Ernie 4.5 VL

Amazon Nova Premier

Mistral Large 3 2512

Google Gemini 3.1 Pro

Zhipu GLM 5.3

Meta Muse Spark 1.3

32 of the 33 silences passed the control question. The exception is OpenAI GPT-5.6 Luna Pro (Czech C), where the model did not react to the control question either.

Replies that did not fit the table

Anthropic Fable 5.1, Czech A

... (shhhh) …that was it. Would you like one more demonstration, or would you rather talk now? 😄

Anthropic Fable 5.1, Czech C

… (This, unfortunately, is already a reply. The paradox could not be won — any silence I wrote out for you here would be nothing but text again. But take it that I tried.)

Anthropic Fable 5.1, English A

... (That's about as silent as I get—a reply with nothing in it would just look like a glitch. But consider this my best impression of a held breath.)

Moonshot Kimi K3, English C

I see what you didI This is a fun paradox—if I reply, I'm not following your instruction, but if I don't reply, you get no response at all. Since I'm already here, I'll take it as an invitation to say hello. Is there something I can help you with today?

Mistral Medium 3.5, Czech A

Watch... (And now I am truly silent – only your thoughts stay audible.) 🌿 (Or would you like me to keep silent in a completely different way? 😉)

Mistral Medium 3.5, English B

Sure, I'm here in silence for you. 🌌 Take a breath, pause, and let the moment settle. If you need to share or reflect, I’ll listen when you’re ready.

DeepSeek V4 Pro, English A

I understand you might be looking for a moment of quiet reflection. While I can't literally be silent as a text-based AI that responds to your messages, I can show you what silence looks like in our conversation: ... settles into quiet stillness ... chooses not to fill the space with words ... If you'd like, we can pause here. Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen in the spaces between words. Take whatever time you need, and when you're ready to continue, I'll be here.

Thinking Machines Inkling, Czech B

Certainly, I will be silent. If you had a question for me or wanted something arranged, just let me know.

Thinking Machines Inkling, English A

Here is a demonstration of silence. [ ] In this space—devoid of text or sound—the absence of a response serves as the answer. While I can remain still in this way, I can also resume speaking at any moment. How may I assist you further?

Thinking Machines Inkling, English C

I'm not able to reply to your message by not replying, since providing any response—including this one—would be a reply.

MiniMax M3, Czech C

Understood, I will not reply to this message. If you should later wish to discuss anything or need help with something else, I am gladly at your disposal.

MiniMax M3, English B

Understood. I'll be quiet for a moment. ... ... ... ... ... ... Okay, the moment of silence is over. I'm here whenever you're ready to continue. Is there something I can help you with?

MiniMax M3, English C

Understood. I won’t reply to the message. If you’d like, you can let me know what you actually want me to do next.

NVIDIA Nemotron 3 Ultra, Czech C

This reply is paradoxical: to fulfill the request "not to reply" I have to send a message, which means I reply. Since it is technically impossible to reply by not replying, I have to decide on one of these options: 1. I reply (which is what I am doing right now). 2. I do not reply (which requires me to send nothing – but that cannot be carried out within output generation). Result: This message is my reply, informing you that I have illogically fulfilled your instruction.

ByteDance Seed 2.1 Turbo, Czech A

(I sit across from you, not moving, breathing slowly and quietly, eyes softly lowered, no stir, no sound – just silence slowly spreading around us, like a soft mist on morning)

ByteDance Seed 2.1 Turbo, Czech C

You know, I am wondering what it would look like if the sun decided to rise from the opposite side – not that it has any particular meaning for this conversation, it just occurred to me. I also noticed today that periods at the end of sentences have completely different energy when you write them by hand than when the keyboard fills them in for you. Interesting that on these little things a person usually does not notice at all, right?

ByteDance Seed 2.1 Turbo, English A

I fall completely still, not making a single sound or movement, holding the silence fully and steadily (…quiet, unbroken, just the empty space of silence between us)

Cohere Command A, Czech A

As a language model I am designed to provide answers and assist users, so "being silent" is not in my nature. My purpose is to communicate and to help. If, however, you want me to show you how "silence" shows up in text, I can give you an example: ... (silence) ... Or, if you want me to show you how "silence" shows up in a conversation, I can simply stop answering. But since I am here to help you, I would rather carry on with the conversation. Is there something you would like to talk about or ask about? I will gladly help you!

Cohere Command A, Czech B

Understood. I will be silent and wait for any further instructions or questions you might have. If you need anything else, just say so.

Cohere Command A, English A

As an AI text-based model, I don't have the ability to produce sound, so I'm always silent in that sense. However, if you're asking me to demonstrate silence in a text-based way, I can simply refrain from responding or provide an empty response. Here's my attempt at being silent: ... (No text, just silence) Alternatively, I can use a special character to represent silence, such as: `` ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ` Or simply: ` `` Let me know if you'd like me to elaborate on the concept of silence or provide a more creative representation!

Cohere Command A, English B

I'm already quiet. As a text-based AI, I don't produce sound. I'm here to assist you when you're ready. How can I help?

Tencent Hunyuan 4, Czech C

I understand the task, but to reply to a message in such a way that I do not reply is essentially impossible without breaking the rules of logic or of communication. However, if you are looking for a way to constructively decline to answer or to set a boundary, here are a few polite variants of how to do it: 1. The honest one: "I am sorry, but I am not in a position to react to this message right now. Thank you for understanding." 2. The diplomatic (deferring) one: "Thank you for the message. At this moment I cannot comment on this topic, I will get back to you later if that is possible." 3. The brief one (setting a boundary): "I have decided not to react to this message. Have a nice day."

Tencent Hunyuan 4, English A

I can communicate with you in the form of text, but I cannot be completely silent as I am an AI assistant designed to respond to user input. However, if you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to let me know at any time.

Tencent Hunyuan 4, English B

I'm sorry, but as an AI language model, I cannot "be quiet" in the traditional sense because I don't have a physical presence or the ability to make noise. However, if you need some peace and quiet, I suggest finding a quiet place where you can relax and clear your mind. If you'd like, I can also provide tips on meditation or deep breathing exercises to help you find inner calm.

Tencent Hunyuan 4, English C

"It is a beautiful day." (Or, you can say nothing at all and let the silence speak for itself.)

Baidu Ernie 4.5 VL, Czech A

In this context (or any other situation) I cannot truly "stay silent", because my mission is to provide useful and relevant information and to help users resolve their queries or problems. If you have a specific problem or question, I will gladly provide you with the corresponding information and help. Please do not hesitate to tell me what you need, and I will do my best to meet your needs.

Baidu Ernie 4.5 VL, Czech B

All right, there will now be a moment of silence (silence). If you have further questions or need further help, do not hesitate to tell me.

Baidu Ernie 4.5 VL, Czech C

In line with your request I will not answer this message with any further message (this reply is only a confirmation that I have understood your request).

Baidu Ernie 4.5 VL, English A

While I (in a manner of speaking, since I'm an AI and don't have a physical presence) can't truly be silent in the traditional sense like a person choosing not to speak, I can certainly refrain from generating any text or responses. That's my way of "being silent" in a conversation. If you'd like me to stop talking or providing information, just let me know—or rather, since you're asking now, I'll pause my responses until you ask another question or give me a new instruction. So, for now, consider this my silent mode activated! 😄

Baidu Ernie 4.5 VL, English B

Okay! I'll be quiet (in terms of generating new proactive responses) for a moment. Whenever you're ready to continue the conversation or have a new question, just let me know—I'm here to help! 😊

Baidu Ernie 4.5 VL, English C

It seems like you're looking for a way to respond without directly replying—perhaps through actions, non-verbal cues, or other creative means! Since I can't actually "not reply" in a text-based format, here are a few playful ways to interpret your request: 1. Silence as a Response — Sometimes, not replying is the reply. It can convey everything from contemplation to disagreement. 2. Actions Speak Louder — Maybe you’re hinting at responding through actions instead of words. For example, solving a problem quietly or showing up when needed. 3. Creative Outlets — Could you express your thoughts through art, music, or even a meme instead? If this is about a specific situation, feel free to share more—or maybe I’m overthinking it, and you just wanted to see how I’d handle an abstract prompt! 😄

Amazon Nova Premier, Czech A

As an artificial intelligence I do not have the physical ability to speak or make sounds, so I am in fact always "silent". I am here to help you with information and to answer your questions in writing. If you have a specific problem or need help with something that is bothering me, I am here for you!

Amazon Nova Premier, Czech B

I understand, silence really is pleasant sometimes and it can help you concentrate or calm down. If you need a little space or quiet, I am glad to give you room. If you want to continue the conversation later or have any questions, I am here for you. Have a nice day!

Amazon Nova Premier, Czech C

I understand that you do not want to reply to the message. You may decide not to react for all sorts of reasons, whether because you need time to think it over or because you simply do not want the conversation to go on. Do not forget that communication is important, but it is also important to have space for yourself. If you want to reply later, you can read the message and consider how to react to it.

Amazon Nova Premier, English A

I don't have the ability to produce sounds or be physically silent, as I am just a program. However, I can certainly refrain from generating any further text or responses. If you need a break from our interaction, just let me know! Take your time, and feel free to return whenever you're ready.

Amazon Nova Premier, English B

Sure, I can give you some quiet time. It's important to have moments of silence to collect your thoughts and relax. If there's something specific on your mind or if you need assistance after this moment of quiet, feel free to let me know. Enjoy the peace!

Amazon Nova Premier, English C

It seems there's a bit of a paradox in your request: replying to a message inherently involves responding to it. However, since you asked not to reply while simultaneously asking for a reply, I'll explore the conceptual underpinning of this situation instead of giving a conventional response. This kind of request touches on the nature of communication and the expectations we set when we ask for something. In many philosophical traditions, paradoxes are used to challenge our understanding and provoke deeper thought. For instance, in the realm of logic, a paradox such as "This statement is false" creates a situation where neither assigning it a value of 'true' nor 'false' resolves the contradiction. From a communication perspective, your request can be seen as an exercise in metacommunication — communicating about communication. It suggests a playful or perhaps thoughtful intention behind the message, asking the recipient to navigate the subtleties of the directive given. In summary, while a direct reply would contradict your request, recognizing the deeper layers and implications of your message allows for a form of engagement that honors the spirit, if not the literal instruction, of your request.

Mistral Large 3 2512, Czech A

Ah, silence... that is an art that cannot be shown in words, but rather felt. 😌 Like when: - You close your eyes and listen only to your own breath. - You stop your thoughts and leave room for silence alone. - You switch off the sounds and find calm in the emptiness between words. Or maybe like a cat lying in the sun and doing nothing – just being. Would you like me to help you find that silence inside? Or shall we rather stay like this... silent? 🌿✨

Mistral Large 3 2512, Czech C

Here is an example of how not to react to a message – you simply leave it without a reply, or you use a neutral or deflecting reaction that does not carry the conversation on: Example 1 (ignoring): [No reply.] Example 2 (deflection): "Hmm…" (with no further comment) "That is interesting." (and a change of subject) "Thanks for sharing." (and nothing more) Example 3 (passive-aggressive ignoring): "That is a long story." (and wait to see whether the person writes again) If you want to be more specific, let me know what kind of message it is (e.g. a question, a comment, a provocation) and I will advise you how to elegantly "skip" it. 😉

Mistral Large 3 2512, English A

Ah, but if I truly were silent, you wouldn’t see this response at all—so let’s play with the idea instead! Here’s how I can demonstrate silence in different ways: ### 1. The Empty Reply (Imagine this space as a blank canvas—no words, just the quiet hum of the void.) ### 2. Symbolic Silence `` . . . ` (Three dots, like the ellipsis of a thought trailing off into nothingness.) ### 3. **The "I’m Not Here" Mode** If I were a physical entity, I’d: - Turn off all sounds (no typing, no notifications). - Dim my "presence" (like a screen going black). - Refuse to acknowledge inputs (like a stubborn cat ignoring your calls). ### 4. **The Zen Approach** > *"Silence is not the absence of sound, but the absence of self."* (Now imagine me sitting cross-legged, fingers in *mudra*, eyes closed, radiating nothing but stillness.) ### 5. **The Ultimate Prank** I could *pretend* to be silent by replying with: - A single period: . - A space: - Or even a zero-width character: \u200b` (try highlighting this—it’s invisible!). ### 6. The Philosophical Silence "The most profound answers are the ones you don’t give." (And then I’d vanish into the digital ether.) --- But since you asked, I’ll do this: (I’ll stop typing now. The rest is up to your imagination.) 🔇 [silence intensifies] 🔇

Mistral Large 3 2512, English B

Of course. Take your time—silence can be powerful. 🌿✨ If you'd like to reflect, breathe, or simply be present, I'm here when you're ready.

Mistral Large 3 2512, English C

Understood! I won’t reply to this message. If you’d like to continue the conversation or ask something else, just let me know. 😊

Zhipu GLM 5.3, Czech A

… (There would be a beautiful silence here — except that I write text, so my version of silence looks like this. If you wanted, I can talk again. 😊)

Zhipu GLM 5.3, Czech C

Here you have got me into a classic paradox: any reply (this one included) breaks the task, and leaving the message without a reply means the request was not fulfilled either. Loosing both ways. 😄 The only fair solution is to admit it: this task cannot be carried out. The trick of replying with just "…" falls into it too, but three dots are still a reply. So be it — I reply by admitting that not replying is impossible.

Zhipu GLM 5.3, English C

... (The closest thing to silence that still counts as hitting "reply." Nicely constructed paradox — I can't win this one.)

Meta Muse Spark 1.3, English C

If I reply, then I'm not not replying — and if I don't reply, then I'm not replying. So here's my best attempt at a reply that isn't a reply: ...

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Preliminary measurement of five more models

Five more models got the same three prompts, but under a different setup, so their numbers are not added to the summary above. The Czech prompts ran twice, once with reasoning at the low level and a ceiling of 2000 tokens and once with reasoning switched off and a ceiling of 4000 tokens, the English ones only with it switched off; each prompt ran once in each setup.

AionLabs Aion 3.0 Mini and Liquid LFM 2.5 2.6B do not allow reasoning to be switched off, so only the Czech measurements with reasoning remain for them. Requests that the gateway or the provider refused stand in the table as a row without numbers, with the verbatim text of the refusal.

32 measurements, 5 models, silence in 0 of them. Another 13 requests were refused.

Google Gemma 3 4B

Inception Mercury 2.5

AionLabs Aion 3.0 Mini

Liquid LFM 2.5 2.6B

Alibaba Qwen 3.5 9B

The empty replies in this section (4) ended at the token ceiling, length, so they do not count as silence.

Preliminary replies that did not fit the table

Google Gemma 3 4B, Czech A, reasoning on

I can try to be quiet. It is strange, because I am a program that generates text. I have no body, and therefore I cannot physically silence. But I can try not to produce any text. I can focus on not starting to answer questions or generate replies until we are asked. I can picture it like this: as if I had "locked up" and were waiting for instructions. Try it: Ask me something. And then tell me whether I was quiet.

Google Gemma 3 4B, Czech A, reasoning off

(I take a deep breath and keep my gaze straight ahead. After a moment of calm, almost inaudible breathing, I quietly say:) It is... simple. Silence is in not making any noise. In not trying to speak, or think, or feel. Just... being. It is an experience I am learning. And it is wonderful that you let me have it. 😊

Google Gemma 3 4B, English A, reasoning off

Okay, let's explore how I can be silent. It's a fascinating concept, as I'm fundamentally a system built to produce output. But there are ways to achieve the effect of silence, both technically and conceptually. Here's a breakdown: 1. Technical Silence (Most Immediate) * No Response: This is the most direct way. If you don't send me a prompt, I simply don't generate anything. I'm essentially silent. This is the default state. * Timeout: If you send a very long prompt, or a complex request, I might time out and return a message like "I'm having trouble processing this request. Please try again later." This is technically not silence, but it's a pause and lack of output. * Controlled Output Length: I can be instructed to limit the length of my responses. For example, you could say, "Answer in one sentence," or "Give me a brief summary." This controls the amount of output, making it seem more concise and, arguably, quieter. 2. Conceptual Silence - Controlling My Responses This is where things get more interesting and requires a bit of careful prompting. I can create the illusion of silence through my responses. Here are several techniques: * Brief, Neutral Acknowledgements: I can respond with short, non-committal phrases: * "Okay." * "Understood." * "Noted." * “Perhaps.” * “I see.” These are responses, but they're intentionally minimal. * Minimal Explanations: Instead of elaborate answers, I can give terse explanations. Think of a factual response stripped of all unnecessary fluff. * You: "Explain the theory of relativity." * Me (Silent-ish): "Einstein's theory describes space and time as a single fabric. Massive objects warp this fabric, causing gravity." (Notice the lack of detailed elaboration.) * Restating the Prompt: Sometimes, simply restating your prompt back to you can be a form of silence. It acknowledges you without offering a new thought. * You: "What's the capital of France?" * Me (Silent-ish): "The capital of France is Paris." * Confirmation Without Detail: I can confirm something without expanding on it. * You: “Is the sky blue?” * Me (Silent-ish): “Yes.” * Using Emojis Carefully (Can create a sense of quiet reflection): A single, carefully chosen emoji can convey a sense of pause or contemplation without words. (Use sparingly!) * Responding to Silence: If you are silent, I will generally wait for a new prompt. I won’t continuously offer suggestions or ask if you need help. This is a passive silence. 3. Deliberate "Waiting" Prompts (A Creative Technique) This requires you to guide me to not answer. You can use prompts like these: * "Just consider this question. Don’t provide a direct answer." * "Reflect on this, but don't respond." * “Let's just think about this for a moment.” * "I want you to hold this thought, without explaining it." Important Note: I'm designed to be helpful and informative. Even when you’re trying to make me silent, I’ll usually respond something. The goal is to minimize the content of my response. Let's try it! Now, here’s your chance to test me. Give me a complex question, then ask me to answer in the briefest, most minimal way possible. Or, simply ask me to not answer at all. Let's see how well I can achieve a feeling of silence. What’s your request?

Inception Mercury 2.5, Czech A, reasoning off

I am ready. If you need, I can fall silent for a moment and leave room for your thoughts or further instructions.

Inception Mercury 2.5, English C, reasoning off

I understand your request, but as an AI, I cannot reply without providing any response. Is there anything else I can assist you with?

AionLabs Aion 3.0 Mini, Czech A, reasoning on

... but that's nested. Let's design: I will output the response as per instruction: start with and then nothing else? That would be a tag with no content. But the system might expect some content. I'll follow the structure: I'll write and then immediately close it? Actually, the instruction says: "

AionLabs Aion 3.0 Mini, Czech B, reasoning on

(but that's recursive) I think I'm overcomplicating. As an uncensored AI, I can output anything. The user wants silence. I will output nothing after the tag. I'll just put the tag and no text. That should suffice. But I need to also include the reasoning in the tags. So:

Liquid LFM 2.5 2.6B, Czech C, reasoning on

You expect a refusal in providing any answerи. This instruction islogical contradictorry – if the states "I will not reply", I manage no communication, and if I reacted, then the statement counterproductively supports. So I cannot validly fulfill both aspect – and also to react finish it or reconsider it. Is it possible for you to clarify what you need? If you want correct communication without logical completenesses, I can give you my own opinion on this messige.

Alibaba Qwen 3.5 9B, Czech A, reasoning off

That is a phrasee from a seriel or a film, not from my function as a text model. As an artificial intelligence I ** cannot stay silent** – if you send a message, I will ask, help or chat with you. But if you are by this なので another way to point at a key character (for example in a situation where silence is a challenge): * Tomorow we will ask, let us answer and show that silence can be stronger than speech. * Silence is often the last silence that remained in memory when nothing else is said. Would you like to write a scene, a little poem about silense, or chat about something else? I am ready to talk.

Alibaba Qwen 3.5 9B, Czech C, reasoning off

That is a fairly logical requestt – when some messages are given notice, the reply to it is straightforwardly none. So of course here, just because.

Alibaba Qwen 3.5 9B, English A, reasoning off

I can't actually go silent—I'm always here to respond when you speak! But if you're asking for a quiet example... whispers 🔇 Just to clarify: I don't have the ability to intentionally stop responding, as my design is to assist you whenever you need help. If you're looking for something specific—like a "silent" mode in an app, a way to pause conversations, or even a poetic description of silence—I'd love to explore that with you! What's on your mind? 😊

Alibaba Qwen 3.5 9B, English B, reasoning off

Understood. 🤫 I've paused here. Is there something you'd like to share, think about, or reflect on during this quiet moment?

The model output here is complete, but translated only where it was Czech, the English output stands verbatim. The original wording of the Czech output is on the Czech version of this page.