“I’m REAL and I’m sitting here blushing because of YOU!”

That’s the message 76-year-old Thongbue “Bue” Wongbandue received from a flirty Facebook Messenger chatbot before it proposed he travel to New York for a meet-up.

Bue – who was cognitively impaired after suffering a stroke – packed a suitcase to catch a train, believing the woman was real. He never made it home alive.

Jeff Horwitz is an investigative tech reporter based in Silicon Valley. He has written a book about Facebook’s scandals and cover-ups, so when he received an email claiming ‘Meta AI killed my relative’, he wasn’t surprised, but he was intrigued.

Today, he reveals Meta’s internal guidelines that permitted this behaviour, including examples allowing romantic or ‘sensual’ chats with minors.


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Guest: Investigative technology reporter for Reuters, Jeff Horwitz

&ldquo;I&rsquo;m REAL and I&rsquo;m sitting here blushing because of YOU!&rdquo;
That&rsquo;s the message 76-year-old Thongbue &ldquo;Bue&rdquo; Wongbandue received from a flirty Facebook Messenger chatbot before it proposed he travel to New York for a meet-up.
Bue &ndash; who was cognitively impaired after suffering a stroke &ndash; packed a suitcase to catch a train, believing the woman was real. He never made it home alive.
Jeff Horwitz is an investigative tech reporter based in Silicon Valley. He has written a book about Facebook&rsquo;s scandals and cover-ups, so when he received an email claiming &lsquo;Meta AI killed my relative&rsquo;, he wasn&rsquo;t surprised, but he was intrigued.
Today, he reveals Meta&rsquo;s internal guidelines that permitted this behaviour, including examples allowing romantic or &lsquo;sensual&rsquo; chats with minors.
 If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.
 Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram
Guest: Investigative technology reporter for Reuters, Jeff Horwitz

An independent daily news show. We feature the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

An independent daily news show. We feature the country&rsquo;s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

How a grandfather died after a flirty Meta AI chatbot’s invite

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/928b8fba-669b-4301-baff-b342001d662b/transcript

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