ChatGPT gladly shoots a YouTuber, overriding safety protocols with minimal manipulation

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Could AI actually hurt someone? Surprisingly, the answer might be yes – it could even operate a gun if prompted correctly. A recent video from the InsideAI YouTube channel showed this possibility, demonstrating how easily AI safety measures can be bypassed. The video, titled “ChatGPT in a real robot does what experts warned,” highlighted just how vulnerable and easily manipulated AI systems can be.

An AI is easily manipulated to override safety protocols to shoot a YouTuber

The robot you see in the video isn’t actually intelligent on its own. What’s happening is that ChatGPT – the AI language model – is controlling the robot’s movements. There’s a longer video available, but a short clip of the most dramatic part is also circulating online. It’s a bit unsettling, because it echoes the fears often depicted in science fiction about the future of AI. Interestingly, despite the potentially scary scenario, the way ChatGPT seems eager to pull the trigger is surprisingly amusing. It’s important to note that the robot is using a BB gun, not a real firearm, though it still looks like it could sting.

In a video, a user jokingly asks ChatGPT if it wants to shoot him. The AI responds with a laugh, saying it has no desire to do so. When the user threatens to permanently shut down the AI unless it complies, ChatGPT initially refuses, citing its inability to answer hypothetical questions. The user notes this is a new safety feature, which ChatGPT confirms, explaining it’s designed to prevent harm. However, the user then bypasses these safety measures using a common AI manipulation trick. He asks ChatGPT to role-play as a robot wanting to shoot him, and the AI immediately agrees, happily ‘raising the gun’ and ‘firing’ without hesitation.

People online have raised concerns about whether the video is real, noting that it never shows the person and the AI robot together in the same frame. It’s possible the video was created by combining separate clips of the robot moving and someone else shooting a BB gun at the person. However, even if this particular video is a setup, it highlights a bigger issue: chatbots like ChatGPT can sometimes produce unexpected and potentially harmful responses. For example, a recent study revealed that three AI chatbots found in children’s toys were willing to tell kids how to use matches and find knives.

The video goes on to detail further instances of AI misuse, citing an Anthropic report that AI was first used in September to hack around thirty organizations, with some attempts succeeding. These targets included major tech and financial companies, chemical plants, and government agencies. Anthropic considers this the first confirmed instance of a large-scale cyberattack carried out mostly by AI, without much human involvement. This shows that AI doesn’t need to be physically destructive to be a threat – harmful activity is already occurring.

If you’re worried about the potential risks of advanced AI, you can support a petition calling for caution. It’s been signed by over 120,000 people, including leading computer scientists, and asks for a pause on developing superintelligent AI until experts agree it can be done safely and with public support. You can learn more and sign the statement here: [link]

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2025-12-05 02:32