Urgent Warning: ‘AI Homeless Man Prank’ Sparks 911 Chaos

UPDATE: A troubling new TikTok trend known as the ‘AI homeless man prank’ is causing panic and confusion, leading to multiple 911 calls across the United States. This dangerous prank uses artificial intelligence to create hyper-realistic videos of a fictitious homeless man allegedly breaking into homes, rummaging through fridges, or lying in beds.

Authorities from at least four states have reported an alarming rise in calls related to supposed home intrusions, only to discover that the ‘intruder’ was a fabricated AI-generated image. The West Bloomfield Police near Detroit, Michigan, have confirmed receiving multiple reports of individuals misled by these deceptive videos.

“This prank is not just a waste of emergency resources; it poses a real safety risk,” warned the Yonkers Police Department in a recent Facebook post. They highlighted that officers respond with urgency to what they believe are legitimate break-in calls, only to find out it’s a hoax. “If our officers arrive before the prank is revealed, they could rush into a home to apprehend an ‘intruder’ who does not exist,” the post stated.

Experts are sounding alarms over the repercussions of this prank. Greg Gogolin, a professor and director of cyber security at Ferris State University, explained that he created a program in just a few hours that demonstrates how AI can manipulate images to create these convincing scenarios. “This is a natural language processing machine learning program called face swapping,” Gogolin noted, emphasizing the ease with which such technology can be misused.

The implications of this trend extend beyond mere pranks. Once such technologies are developed, they often spread beyond the creators’ control, allowing individuals without technical expertise to exploit them. “It’s frustratingly easy to do,” Gogolin added, highlighting the urgent need for better training for law enforcement.

Although some characteristics of AI-generated images can sometimes reveal their nature—such as distorted limbs or unnatural proportions—advancements in technology have made these distinctions increasingly difficult to detect.

As this trend continues to escalate, law enforcement agencies are urging the public to remain vigilant. The New York Times reports that these AI-generated disturbances are straining emergency services and diverting resources from genuine emergencies, creating potential dangers for both officers and families at home.

What happens next? Authorities are calling for awareness and education regarding the realities of AI technology and its misuse. As the situation develops, individuals are encouraged to report suspicious activities without jumping to conclusions based on manipulated images.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story and remember to share this information to help spread awareness about the dangers of the ‘AI homeless man prank.’