Feb 2, 2026
is the cake a lie?
The short answer: within ’s narrative the cake functions as both a real object and a deliberate deception — a promised reward that motivates but is not honestly intended for the test subject — which s...
The Cake is a Lie in Portal
The phrase 'the cake is a lie' originated from the video game Portal, where it is used to motivate the test subject with a promise of cake that is not honestly intended. The phrase has since become a meme and idiom for hollow promises.