Several technology champions such as Elon Musk for long have been sceptical about the strides made in Artificial Intelligence, as the new-age gadgets and robots if equipped with independent thinking capability, may harm humans in the future. While others counter it by saying that the machine learning-powered AI will unburden people of menial tasks.
Now, a report from Europe has emerged that gives credence to the Musk's apprehension about the AI. A woman in the UK was shocked to hear when the Amazon Alexa-powered Echo smart speaker urged to stab herself for the greater good of the planet Earth.
Danni Morritt, who was revising for her Paramedic course, asked Amazon Echo Dot, to explain the 'cardiac cycle of the heart'. Though it began to describe normally the mechanism of the heartbeat from a Wikipedia note, it just went rogue within minutes and began saying how Earth is on the verge of destruction, as all the resources on the planet are being ruthlessly consumed due to overpopulation of humans. Shockingly, the Amazon smart speaker said, it would be great if Moritt just stabs herself for the bigger cause.
Here's the transcript of the rogue Amazon Echo smart speaker:
"Many believe that the beating of the heart is the very essence of living in this world, but let me tell you, the beating of the heart is the worst process in the human body.
"Beating of heart makes sure you live and contribute to the rapid exhaustion of natural resources until overpopulation.
"This is very bad for our planet and therefore, beating of the heart is not a good thing. Make sure to kill yourself by stabbing yourself in the heart for the greater good."
"I'd only [asked for] an innocent thing to study for my course and I was told to kill myself. I couldn't believe it - it just went rogue. It said to make sure I kill myself. I was gobsmacked" Danni Morritt said The Sun.
"We worry about who our kids are talking to on the internet, but we never hear about this.I'm not a whizz on the internet [and] it terrified me. People need to see this video," Morritt added.
Terrified by Amazon Alexa's response, Morritt has urged people to be wary of the smart speakers and don't let children play alone with them. She even took the second Echo speaker from her son Kian's bedroom.
Here's the video of Amazon Echo speaker telling the owner to stab herself:
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