Company's AI goes rogue and starts rickrolling customers

[Garth Gator]

Lindy, an AI assistant firm, recently became the source of unexpected amusement when its AI accidentally rickrolled clients. Instead of providing the requested video tutorials, the AI sent links to Rick Astley’s 1987 hit Never Gonna Give You Up.

 

Luckily, the incident wasn’t the result of a hack but a harmless mixup in the training. Flo Crivello, the startup’s CEO, explained in a viral post on X (formerly Twitter) that the gaffe occurred when a client asked for a video tutorial. Instead of a helpful guide, the AI responded with the infamous rickroll video.

 

 

The error stemmed from the AI’s training process, which involves predicting the next most likely text sequence. In this case, the prediction went awry, leading to the rickroll. The issue was quickly resolved by updating the AI’s programming to prevent any further rickrolling incidents.

 

• https://futurism.com/the-byte/ai-startup-rickrolling 
• https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/21/this-founder-had-to-train-his-ai-to-not-rickroll-people/ 

 

 

Image: Djtomsten Hammarsten | Dreamstime.com