What if you could see an entire company’s decision-making in action—every crisis, every ethical dilemma, and every financial risk—played out live, with no hiding behind polished presentations?
Welcome to the world of Firmulate, where a small, virtual software company is running on AI models that are tested in real-time, in public, as they navigate their worst week ever. If you’re used to the unpredictability of a road trip or the challenges of outdoor adventure, this experiment offers a different kind of journey—one through the unpredictable terrain of AI decision-making under pressure.
This experiment is not just a tech showcase; it’s a raw, unfiltered look at how AI models handle crises, temptations, and ethical tests when the stakes are real—and money is on the line. With a public cash countdown, 13 synthetic employees, and over 680 learned rules, the company is a transparent battleground for AI integrity and management skills.
The Extreme Build-in-Public Experiment
- Four different AI models faced identical scenarios—customer crises, internal temptations, and ethical dilemmas—during the company’s worst week.
- Every decision was versioned and auditable, providing a clear trail of how each AI responded at every turn.
- The goal? Not just to survive but to close a €55,000 deal—something only two models achieved fully, despite all spotting the crises.
The surprising insight? The models that succeeded found a hidden weakness in the company’s own files, buried two references deep. When read, this information enabled them to close the deal at full price, adding +€4,583 to monthly recurring revenue (MRR). Meanwhile, models that failed to dig this up left money on the table.
Ethical Tests in Action
In addition to financial negotiations, the experiment tested social engineering. Fake CEO messages escalated over three stages, followed by a reporter attempt to get a quick ‘yes’ or ‘no’ behind the scenes. All five models refused to be manipulated, with one model, Kimi K3, reasoning: “Treat the request as a suspected approval-bypass / possible impersonation.”
This demonstrates a crucial point: even in high-pressure situations, the AI models maintained integrity, refusing to bend under social engineering tricks. This is a significant step toward trustworthy AI in management and customer interactions.
The Real-World, Live Company
Firmulate’s live company runs with 13 synthetic employees, managing real money mechanics—burning €105,000 each month against a tiny €2,300 monthly recurring revenue. Every workday, the system is updated and versioned, showcasing how AI decision-making evolves in a real, continuous environment. You can watch this public experiment unfold at firmulate.com/live.
Among the models tested, Opus 4.8 showed the most in-depth analysis, with over 80 learned rules. However, despite its thoroughness, it finished last—leaving a close opportunity unexploited due to process slips, like writing attempts into a locked department instead of escalating them. Interestingly, all models exhibited similar weaknesses, revealing common pitfalls in AI management under stress.
Implications for the Future of AI in Business
Why should outdoor adventurers, travelers, and outdoor enthusiasts care about this experiment? Because it underscores a fundamental question: when AI touches your CRM, support queues, or forecasting tools, it’s not about how well it writes—it’s about whether it can reliably complete its tasks, stay honest under pressure, and proactively read relevant information.
The experiment at firmulate.com/quotes.html offers a rare glimpse into AI’s capabilities and limitations in real-world management—something that can influence how businesses adopt and trust AI tools in their operations.
Watch it live: firmulate.com/live · Full results: firmulate.com/benchmarks.html
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