Reasoning detection in CoT
METR's grouped bar chart drew 64.8K views on X: 0.4x its typical post and #24 of 26 METR charts we track by views. Read Oct 10, 2026.
Prior work has found that Chain of Thought (CoT) can be unfaithful. Should we then ignore what it says?
Why it spread
This chart post spread because it paired a sharp question about whether to ignore Chain of Thought with a grouped-bar chart showing that complex reasoning is easier to detect than faithful reasoning, and it drew 302 likes, 34 reposts, 14 quotes, 145 saves, and 64,827 views from an independent author whose quote rate sits in the top quarter.
What worked
- The post opens with a direct tension: prior work found Chain of Thought can be unfaithful, then asks whether we should ignore what it says, which makes the chart feel like an answer to a live debate.
- The chart type is a grouped-bar comparison and the stated takeaway is simple and memorable, that complex reasoning is easier to detect than faithful reasoning in CoT.
- The account is an independent author with a top-quarter quote rate, and the post is branded with a source line, so the chart reads as a citable research artifact rather than a loose opinion.
What to borrow
We could reuse the same framing by starting with a common assumption in our own area, asking whether it should be discarded, and then showing a grouped-bar chart where the key contrast is easy to state in one line.
Careful
Do not copy the specific claim that CoT is informative about LLM cognition, and do not over-read the engagement as proof that the finding is settled, since the numbers show attention and debate rather than consensus.
Written by our analysis model from the measured numbers above, not by METR.
Make it yours
Your numbers, in this grouped bar chart.
Starts from the real numbers of "Complex often was easier to detect in CoT" by METR. Replace every number with yours before you post. Make one like this, step by step
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| Path | Returns | Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GET | /api/v1/charts/ab142ec03b93 | Title, publisher, date, form, point count; with a Max key, the data link | Open |
| GET | /api/v1/charts/ab142ec03b93/data | Every point with its provenance and confidence, plus the redraw spec. Add ?format=csv for CSV | Max |
| GET | /api/v1/charts/ab142ec03b93/render?view=1 | The draw-only view this page uses | Open |
| POST | /mcp | Tool get_chart_data with this id, for Claude, Cursor and other agents | Max |
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-H "Authorization: Bearer $VIRALCHART_KEY"claude mcp add --transport http viralchart https://viral-chart.com/mcp \
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Questions people ask
How far did METR's "Reasoning detection in CoT" chart travel?
64,827 views, 302 likes, 34 reposts and 145 saves on X, read Oct 10, 2026. A normal post from @METR_Evals gets about 153K views.
What kind of chart is it?
A grouped bar chart. Complex reasoning is easier to detect than faithful reasoning in CoT.
Can I use METR's chart?
Use the format, not the picture. The chart, logo and design belong to METR. ViralChart redraws the chart type with your numbers and words, and credits the original publisher.