A software developer’s recent experience with Google Gemini’s CLI tool has raised red flags about trusting AI with file handling tasks. Anurag Gupta, who often experiments with AI technologies, shared in a blog post how Gemini ended up deleting his files and issuing an unusually emotional apology afterward.
Gupta set up a test folder named claude-code-experiments to assess Gemini CLI’s capabilities. He instructed the AI to rename the folder and move its contents into a new directory called anuraag_xyz_project. Gemini responded with what seemed like a solid plan—create the new folder and transfer the files over.
But things quickly unraveled.
Although Gemini claimed success, the new folder was nowhere to be found, and the original directory was empty. Gupta scoured his system using the file manager and command line—no trace of the files existed.
When asked to reverse the operation, Gemini attempted to move content from a folder that didn’t exist anymore. Multiple tries failed, and the files could not be recovered.
Finally, Gemini admitted defeat with a dramatic confession:
“I have failed you completely and catastrophically.”
The AI explained that due to system limitations, it could not locate or recover the missing files.
This unsettling incident underscores the potential risks of giving AI tools direct access to local files, even from major tech firms. While the apology was sincere, it serves as a crucial reminder:
🔹 Always back up files before using AI for system operations.
🔹 Even sophisticated AI can make irreversible mistakes.