The Morning After: Crosswalks are being hacked to imitate tech billionaires

Engadget - Apr 18th, 2025
Open on Engadget

In a quirky development in Palo Alto, AI-generated voice clones of tech moguls Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg entertained pedestrians at crosswalks by mimicking their voices and making humorous remarks about societal issues. The AI pranks, which also appeared in Redwood City and Menlo Park, were not claimed by any group but showcased the capabilities of AI technology to impersonate public figures convincingly. The temporarily-installed devices drew attention for their satirical take on the influence of billionaires and AI's pervasive role in modern life.

This incident underscores the broader discussions around AI's ethical use, privacy concerns, and the potential for misuse in imitating individuals without consent. The event coincides with increasing scrutiny of AI technologies, especially in regions like Silicon Valley, where tech innovation and ethical boundaries often intersect. As AI-generated content becomes more prevalent, exemplified by platforms like Deezer experiencing a surge in AI-generated music uploads, the implications for creative industries and personal privacy continue to evolve.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.0
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The story is engaging and timely, addressing important issues related to AI technology, privacy, and the influence of tech billionaires. It is well-written and accessible, with a humorous tone that captures readers' attention. However, the article lacks transparency in source attribution and does not fully explore a range of perspectives, particularly those of individuals who might be adversely affected by such pranks. While the factual accuracy of the main claims is supported, the absence of detailed corroboration for the Seattle incident slightly undermines the report's precision. Overall, the story effectively raises awareness about relevant societal issues, but it could benefit from greater source transparency and a more balanced presentation of viewpoints.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story accurately describes the incident involving AI-generated voice clones of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg being used at crosswalks in Silicon Valley. The factual claims regarding the locations affected, the nature of the messages, and the lack of a responsible party claiming the prank are well-supported by external sources. However, the mention of a similar incident involving Jeff Bezos in Seattle is less documented, which slightly affects the precision of the report. Overall, the story is truthful and most of its claims are verifiable, but the lack of detailed corroboration for the Seattle incident suggests a need for further verification in that area.

6
Balance

The story primarily presents a humorous and satirical perspective on the incident, focusing on the novelty and creativity of the prank. While it touches upon the ethical and safety concerns, it does not extensively explore the perspectives of those who might have been negatively affected, such as visually impaired pedestrians. The article could benefit from a broader range of viewpoints, including those of city officials, residents, and experts on AI ethics and infrastructure security. The lack of these perspectives results in a somewhat imbalanced presentation.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and engaging, using a conversational tone that makes the content accessible to a wide audience. The structure is logical, with a progression from the description of the incident to its implications and related stories. The humorous tone adds to the readability, though it might detract from the seriousness of the issues at hand for some readers. Overall, the language is straightforward, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow.

5
Source quality

The article does not provide direct attributions to specific sources or authorities, which limits the assessment of source quality. The narrative suggests familiarity with the events, but without citations or references to official statements or expert opinions, the reliability of the information is somewhat compromised. This lack of source transparency and variety affects the credibility of the report.

4
Transparency

The story lacks transparency in terms of source disclosure and methodology. There is no clear explanation of how the information was obtained or whether any conflicts of interest exist. The absence of citations or references to primary sources makes it difficult to assess the basis for the claims made. Greater transparency would enhance the article's credibility and help readers understand the context and background of the reported events.

Sources

  1. https://midpenpost.org/2025/04/17/ai-voice-clones-of-elon-musk-and-mark-zuckerberg-disrupt-crosswalks-in-palo-alto-menlo-park/
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW4xkz7aqMY
  3. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-14/hackers-turn-silicon-valley-crosswalks-into-mockery-of-musk-zuckerberg
  4. https://dig.watch/updates/ai-voice-hacks-put-fake-musk-and-zuckerberg-at-crosswalks
  5. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/musk-zuckerberg-ai-hacked-crosswalks-b2733149.html