**Hacked Crosswalk Speakers Spread AI-Generated Prank Messages Across Silicon Valley**
The streets of Silicon Valley are no strangers to technological innovation, but recently, a peculiar hack has taken over crosswalk speakers across multiple cities on the Peninsula. In a bizarre incident that has left residents and authorities alike scratching their heads, crosswalk buttons were reportedly hacked to play AI-generated voices of billionaire tech moguls Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.
The prankster's handiwork was captured in videos posted across social media, showcasing crosswalks in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Redwood City, all bearing the unmistakable voice of either the Tesla CEO or the Meta CEO. In one such clip, a crosswalk button in Palo Alto, Emerson Street, and University Avenue posed as a lonely Musk eager to make friends.
"Hi, I'm Elon. Can we be friends? Will you be my friend? I'll give you a Cybertruck, I promise," the voice said. "You don't know the level of depravity I would stoop to just for a crumb of approval." The speaker's tone was both desperate and melancholic, as if Musk was longing for human connection in his vast wealth.
Another audio recording captured in the area similarly portrayed Musk as desperate for praise. "Hi, this is Elon Musk. Welcome to Palo Alto, the home of Tesla engineering," the voice said. "You know, they say money can't buy happiness, and yeah, okay, I guess that's true. God knows I've tried. But it can buy a Cybertruck, and that's pretty sick, right? Right? Fuck, I'm so alone." The recording was both unsettling and revealing, offering a glimpse into the mind of one of the world's most influential figures.
But it wasn't just Musk who was targeted in this prankster's hack. The Meta CEO's voice was also imitated at crosswalks, with one recording boasting of Meta's legacy and accomplishments. "Hi, this is Mark Zuckerberg, but real ones call me 'the Zuck,'" another message said. "You know, it's normal to feel uncomfortable or even violated as we forcefully insert AI into every, 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. Anyway, see ya." The tone was dismissive and condescending, leaving many to wonder about the motivations behind this prank.
The hack appears to have affected 12 downtown intersections in total, with city officials confirming that the voice function has been disabled for repairs on Saturday. Investigations are underway in Redwood City and Menlo Park, but no suspects have been named at this time.
As Silicon Valley continues to push the boundaries of technological innovation, it's clear that even the most unlikely systems can be hacked. But will this prankster's stunt lead to any meaningful change or commentary? Only time will tell.
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