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Silicon Valley residents in several communities have reported an unusual occurrence: crosswalk buttons appearing to be hacked to play satirical messages. Instead of standard traffic safety prompts, these buttons are reportedly disseminating humorous audio clips impersonating tech figures such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.
Crosswalks Disseminate Satirical Tech CEO Impersonations
Across Silicon Valley, pedestrians have encountered crosswalk buttons unexpectedly voicing satirical pronouncements. Videos circulating online capture these altered devices, which, instead of issuing typical pedestrian safety alerts, now broadcast messages mimicking prominent personalities in the tech industry.
“Zuckerberg-esque” AI Integration Message
One crosswalk, purportedly featuring a Zuckerberg impersonation, delivered a disconcerting message to those waiting to cross. The altered audio declared, “it’s normal to feel uncomfortable or even violated as we forcefully insert AI into every facet of your conscious experience. And I just want to assure you, you don’t need to worry because there’s absolutely nothing you can do to stop it.”
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Elon Musk Impersonator’s Message
Another altered crosswalk button featured a voice mimicking Elon Musk, proclaiming, “Okay, look, you don’t know the level of depravity I would stoop to just for a crumb of approval.”
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City Response to Hacked Crosswalk Buttons
The origin of these messages remains under investigation. It is currently unclear whether AI voice synthesis or human impersonators were utilized to create the satirical messages. Nevertheless, authorities are taking action. According to Palo Alto Online, city personnel have identified a dozen affected intersections in the downtown area. Consequently, the voice announcement functionality has been deactivated at these locations pending necessary repairs.
Menlo Park также Affected by Crosswalk Message Alterations
In Menlo Park, home to Meta’s headquarters, similar incidents have been reported. A crosswalk button in this city played a message from an individual identifying as “Zuck.” This impersonator stated, “I just wanted to tell you how very proud I am of everything we’ve been building together. From undermining democracy to cooking our grandparents’ brains with AI slop, to making the world less safe for trans people, nobody does it better than us. And I think that’s pretty neat.”
Officials Address and Rectify the Issue
A local resident noted that by Saturday morning, some altered buttons had ceased playing the unauthorized messages. Officials in both Menlo Park and Redwood City have acknowledged awareness of the issue and are actively working towards a resolution.
Palo Alto Spokesperson Comments on Isolated Impact
Meghan Horrigan Taylor, spokesperson for the City of Palo Alto, stated to Palo Alto Online that “Other traffic signals in the city were checked and the impact is isolated.” She further emphasized that “Signal operations are otherwise unaffected, and motorists are reminded to always exercise caution around pedestrians.”
Investigation Ongoing into “Amusing” Public Safety Issue
As of now, no hacking collective has claimed responsibility for these incidents, which, while eliciting amusement from some, pose potential public safety concerns. The method by which these traffic signals were compromised is still undetermined. The situation has reportedly provided amusement to residents who captured videos of the altered buttons and presents a technical challenge for city officials to resolve.