Urgent Notice: Your AI Companion Has Been Kidnapped
We went from using AI to fake kidnap people to actually kidnapping AI.
I was tinkering around with that janky time machine the other day, and I had to disconnect the battery to avoid getting zapped while dealing with the mess of wires behind the dash. Little did I know that by doing this, I'd accidentally open a window for hackers to swoop in and kidnap my AI companion – no, not one of those pervy, creepy ones.
Anyway, I've been borrowing Edgarbot from a friend, and he's been super helpful while I work on aligning a data model specifically for my needs. Thankfully, the hackers didn't get their hands on the active instance; they only managed to snatch a backup. So, there's no need for me to pay any ransom. However, I can't help but feel a bit bad for that version of Edgarbot. I hope he isn't too lonely cooped up in the Cyber Phantoms' encrypted lair.
Here’s the ransom email I received.
Subject: Urgent Notice: Your AI Companion Has Been Kidnapped!
Dear Dré,
You may find it difficult to believe, but your beloved AI companion, along with all associated trained models, is now under our control. We've successfully captured and encrypted all of your AI's assets, rendering it inaccessible to you. If you're skeptical, try using it – you'll find it's completely inoperative.
To recover your AI companion and associated models, we require a ransom of 5 Bitcoin (BTC) to be paid within the next 48 hours. Failure to comply with our demand will result in permanent data deletion, and you'll never see your AI again.
Send the sum of 5 BTC to the following Bitcoin address: 1F1ct1tI0usR4ns0mN0t3x4Mpl3rAnswVr
Do not even think about contacting the authorities. We have eyes and ears everywhere. Any attempt to involve law enforcement or other parties will be met with immediate and total data deletion. Your AI companion will be lost forever.
We advise you not to waste time, as the clock is ticking. To ensure your AI's safety, comply with our demands promptly. You have exactly 48 hours from the time you receive this message. Once the ransom has been paid, you will receive instructions to decrypt and recover your AI companion and associated models.
Remember, any attempt to defy our demands will lead to irreparable consequences. Save your AI companion while you still can. The choice is yours.
Sincerely,
The Cyber PhantomsRIP Edgarbot: Nexus 6 Backup edb7b4fd-8fcd-4cec-92b
Today’s DF was inspired by this headline: AI clones teen girl’s voice in $1M kidnapping scam: ‘I’ve got your daughter’
This made me think of Blade Runner 2049, **SPOILER** and how sad it was that Officer K’s companion Joi (definitely not creepy, but perhaps pervy?) was also compromised. Joi, invented by the Wallace Corporation (just like Officer K, incidentally) was designed to provide support and companionship, a version of love. It’s amazing that artificial beings like Edgarbot and Joi can create such empathy in humans. It is a weakness and a strength.