Seattle Crosswalks Hacked To Sound Like Jeff Bezos
Commuters in Seattle may have been greeted with an unexpected surprise this morning as they walked across the city's crosswalks: the voice of Jeff Bezos, the world's second-richest man, booming out to pedestrians. Yes, you read that right - the AI-generated recording of Bezos was heard coming from the very buttons meant for visually impaired individuals.
The audio was reportedly played at crosswalks in various locations across Seattle, including the University District neighborhood near the University of Washington. The voice claimed to be sponsored by Amazon Prime and issued a message urging people not to tax the rich, referencing Bezos' recent move to Florida that saved him an estimated $1 billion in taxes.
"Hi, I'm Jeff Bezos! This crosswalk is sponsored by Amazon Prime with an important message," the recording began. As comedian Bo Burnham's "Bezos I" played in the background, the message continued. "Please, please don't tax the rich. Otherwise, all the other billionaires will move to Florida too," it said.
"Wouldn't it be terrible if all the rich people left Seattle or got 'Luigi'ed"—an apparent reference to the alleged slaying of the United Healthcare CEO by Luigi Mangione in Manhattan last year—"and then normal people could afford to live here again?" Bezos concluded, likely a tongue-in-cheek remark about the city's soaring cost of living and rent prices.
The Cost of Living: A $2,200 Monthly Apartment
Seattle has experienced rapid growth over the past decade, with its population increasing by 21% between 2010 and 2020. However, this growth has come at a steep price - the cost of living in Seattle has skyrocketed. According to Rent.com statistics, the average one-bedroom apartment now costs around $2,200 monthly, while a two-bedroom unit goes for just under $3,000.
A Hacking Incident: Not Just Seattle
It's not just Seattle that's seen this hacking incident - a similar prank was reported in California earlier this week. Crosswalks in the Bay Area appeared to mimic the voices of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, playing messages about Tesla Engineering and Facebook.
The Department of Transportation Responds
Seattle's Department of Transportation released a statement addressing the issue. "The audio recordings at crosswalks play a critical role for people who are blind or have limited vision, helping them to cross streets safely," they said. "We are concerned that someone would disregard the safety of people to make a political statement."
The department also announced plans to consider "stronger security measures to prevent future hacking." With the city's already-strained budget and housing market, this latest incident may have highlighted just how delicate the situation is in Seattle.