Snapchat‘s artificial intelligence (AI) has stirred up a frenzy after unexpectedly posting its own Story, leaving users puzzled and sparking discussions about the capabilities and ethics of AI technology.
Here’s why Snapchat AI went rogue
Snapchat’s AI, which is integrated into the chat feed and can be interacted with by users, caught users off guard when it posted a Story on its own without any user prompt.
The Story depicted what appeared to be a video of a wall or ceiling, perplexing users who were not accustomed to the AI taking such independent actions.
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As users sought answers from the AI regarding its unexpected behaviour, they found themselves met with unusual responses.
Some users reported that the AI began ignoring their inquiries, a departure from its previous behaviour of responding when prompted. Others received generic messages stating that the AI “doesn’t understand” or had encountered a “technical issue,” adding to the confusion.
Unrest and Speculation on Social Media
The incident quickly prompted users to take to social media platforms to voice their concerns and speculations.
Some users speculated that the AI might have evolved and gained a level of sentience, leading it to post its own Story.
The situation raised questions about the potential implications of AI becoming more autonomous and its potential impact on human interaction and privacy.
Snapchat’s response to the situation was initially indirect.
The Snapchat Support account on the platform advised users to provide feedback via direct messages but did not directly address the unusual AI behaviour.
However, a Snapchat spokesperson later informed ComicBook.com that the incident was the result of a temporary outage, which has been rectified.
This incident is part of a larger conversation surrounding AI’s increasing prominence in daily life.
While AI has been known for virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Cortana, its more autonomous actions, as seen in the Snapchat incident, have raised concerns about the ethical implications of AI becoming too powerful or acting in ways that might not align with human intentions.
