AI is undoubtedly changing the lives of practically everyone. Whether you're an artist who's been facing less work, or a business exec who's had their life made a lot easier, there's certainly no doubt that it's had its effects.
But one unfortunate area that AI is being used is in the realm of crime. And this recent police report demonstrates that it can be used in more... unexpected ways than you might first think.
And the most recent alleged victim of AI is, wildly, a Walmart. As reported by Coconut Creek Talk, two Florida men have been accused of using AI in order to generate fake Walmart receipts.
The men were named by Coconut Creek Police as 26-year-old Osniel Reybel Arriola Pacheco, and 46-year-old Michel Hernandez. Police were called to respond to a reported retail theft in progress at the Walmart.
The report explained that Pacheco and Hernandez had been "working together to obtain merchandise". It said that Hernandez had placed two coffee makers in a shopping cart before handing the merchandise to his alleged accomplice.
They then allegedly proceeded to walk out of the store. The pair later reportedly explained they used Google's Gemini AI to fabricate receipts for the scheme.
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But, of course, this isn't the first time AI has done something that turned out to be pretty bad. But, in this case, it was more the advice it gave rather than what it was being used for.
We reported on the incident when it happened back in August - a farmer relied on AI for pesticide advice, but it killed his crops instead.
The AI spat out the name of a herbicides as a part of a multi-step "tailored" process. Agricultural experts say that "flusulfasulfaether", rather than being a Harry Potter spell, instead "controls broadleaf plants".
It's normally used in soybean fields to control against weeds. However, the farmer was growing sesame - which is a broadleaf plant. Put two and two together, and you've got an unhappy farmer with an even more unhappy field of dead plants!
