A Las Vegas tech CEO received a severed pig’s head and a threatening letter in the mail, thought to stem from his company’s use of artificial intelligence.
Blake Owens, founder and CEO of Agrippa – an AI-powered platform that connects commercial real estate investors and developers without the use of traditional brokers – received the bloodied pig’s head along with the fear-mongering letter on July 29.
The gruesome package was mailed to a family member’s home, accompanied by a handwritten note that criticised Owens’ use of AI and included personal slurs, calling him a ‘Clark Kent knockoff.’
The note concluded ominously, reading, ‘And don’t get greedy because pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.’
‘Perhaps this person watched too much of The Godfather,’ Owens told KLAS. ‘Needless to say, I still take it very seriously, but don’t feel like I’m being truly threatened. It was a message.’
The note was signed only with the initial ‘M’. It seemed to be motivated by a June television feature that profiled Owens and Agrippa’s AI tool, known as ‘Marcus,’ which automates real estate transactions by matching developers with investors and evaluating property bids.
‘AI is not going to replace brokers,’ the note read.
‘Clearly, you don’t understand real estate wasn’t built by developers or investors. And it sure as hell wasn’t built by tech guys in Lululemon. It was built by brokers. We did it the hard way. No shortcuts, no tech, just people.’
Owens said he believes the sender may be someone fearful of being displaced by automation.
‘I understand this person is probably just frustrated that business isn’t going well for them, and then they see AI replacement stories on top of that,’ Owens said. ‘And I just so happen to be someone they can focus their frustration on.’
An image of the package shows the sender labelled as ‘Marcus Agrippa’ – a nod to the company’s AI system.
Owens quipped, ‘Is this a message that you know your own AI is turning against you? I wasn’t quite sure how to interpret it.’
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has designated the event as a harassment investigation and verified that it is looking into it. The identity of the suspect is yet unknown.
Owens has since said that he does not feel ‘genuinely threatened’ and does not plan to press charges if the sender is eventually identified.
‘I don’t want to punch down on this person; they may be in a tough spot in life,’ he told KLAS. ‘I do see this as an opportunity to show people you don’t become a better person by making another man a lesser person.’
Owens also addressed potential anxiety surrounding AI’s growing presence in the workforce, particularly in fields like real estate that have historically relied on personal relationships.
‘You know, people are scared,’ he said. ‘They feel displaced. And when disruption moves faster than education, fear just fills the gap.’
Owens added that Agrippa is not designed to replace humans, but to empower professionals through AI.
‘[Winston Churchill] said to be perfect is to change often,’ Owens said. ‘I think a lot of people are afraid of change and what’s coming with AI, because it really is a tsunami of change that people are trying to resist. But the more you embrace it, the better you’ll do, the more skills that you’ll accumulate, more value you’ll bring to the table.’
Las Vegas is increasingly becoming a hub for AI innovation. MGM Resorts recently introduced 70 to 80 new AI systems across its departments, including front desk operations, and the newly opened Otonomous Hotel, which launched on July 1, and brands itself as the world’s first fully AI-powered resort, KLAS reported.
‘You look at Agrippa, TensorWave, look at Otonomous Hotel, everyone is trying to bring AI to the forefront, and it sheds some light on how great this city is and what we can do with the talent we have here,’ Owens said.
‘May ruffle some feathers in the process, but in the long run, I think that it’s the best thing to do,’ the tech CEO added.
Despite the ominous nature of the package, Owens says he is committed to encouraging dialogue.
‘If I knew who this person was, I’d say, “Hey, feel free to reach out to me – maybe not with a package, just send me an email – I’m happy to share whatever education I can on keeping up with AI,”‘ Owens told Inman.
The probe into the incident remains ongoing.
I feel more sorry for the poor pig, but mark my words, AI is here to stay!
I’m sure the pig’s head was just a warning – next time it might be Kryptonite!
Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be detrimental to humans, and the possible dangers are not just theoretical; they’re already being realised in some ways.
AI has many advantages, but it also has significant drawbacks that need to be carefully considered and addressed.
When artificial intelligence (AI) systems are trained on data that reflects prevailing cultural prejudices, the AI will pick up on and reinforce such biases, producing unfair or discriminatory results. For instance, if an AI recruiting tool is trained on datasets with a high proportion of males in particular jobs, it may prefer men for those roles.
There is worry that if AI systems develop further, they may become too complicated for people to comprehend or manage completely. Unintended consequences like autonomous weapons systems that decide for themselves during combat might result from this.
Automation driven by AI has the potential to displace labour across a range of industries, resulting in unemployment and economic disparity. This is especially problematic for jobs like data entry and manufacturing that are easily mechanised.
AI can be used to create compelling fake content (deepfakes), distribute misinformation, and influence public sentiment. This could undermine democratic processes, erode trust in institutions, and destabilise society.
Advanced AI may endanger humankind, according to some academics, including those at the Centre for AI Safety. This might occur in a number of ways, including the creation of self-governing weaponry, pandemics triggered by AI, or the consolidation of power in the hands of a select few who manipulate AI.
Large volumes of data are frequently needed for AI systems to operate, which raises privacy and surveillance problems. Personal information can be gathered, examined, and applied in ways that are damaging or invasive.
Many ethical concerns are brought up by the creation and application of AI, including who bears responsibility for errors made by AI, how to maintain equity and openness, and how to strike a balance between safety and innovation.
To mitigate the dangers associated with AI, a multi-pronged strategy is needed:
- We need to invest in research to comprehend and manage the possible perils of AI.
- We need to guarantee that AI systems are developed and deployed in a safe, ethical, and transparent way.
- We need to raise public understanding about the possible dangers and advantages of AI.
- We need to encourage international collaboration to set standards and regulations for AI development and use.
- We need to develop ethical frameworks and regulations to steer the development and use of AI.
By implementing these measures, society can maximise AI’s potential advantages while lowering its hazards and making sure that technology advances mankind rather than hurts it.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 