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Tech Giants Reflect on Society Through Hacked Crosswalk Messages
In an intriguing manifestation of public sentiment towards technology moguls, hackers have infiltrated the daily experience of pedestrians in California by modifying crosswalk buttons. These hacks introduce satirical messages voiced by imitations of tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, effectively commenting on their pervasive influence in modern society.
Local reports indicate that this unusual prank took place across several cities, including Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Redwood City. The intent behind these alterations appears to be a playful critique of how deeply entrenched technology leaders have become in everyday life.
In downtown Palo Alto, one of the hacked crosswalk buttons greeted users with a message impersonating Elon Musk. The quirky delivery included lines such as:
“Hi, this is Elon Musk. Welcome to Palo Alto, the home of Tesla engineering. You know, they say money can’t buy happiness, and yeah, okay. I guess that’s true. God knows I’ve tried. But it can buy a Cybertruck, and that’s pretty sick, right? F***, I’m so alone.”
Meanwhile, another crosswalk button in Menlo Park delivered a message in a voice mimicking Mark Zuckerberg. It read:
“Hi, this is Mark Zuckerberg, but the real ones call me the Zuck. You know, it’s normal to feel uncomfortable or even violated as we forcibly insert AI into every facet of your conscious experience. And I just want to assure you, you don’t need to worry because there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it. Anyway, see ya.”
According to NBC Bay Area, City officials believe these modifications occurred on a Friday night. Meghan Horrigan-Taylor, Palo Alto’s chief communications officer, stated that the audible features of the crosswalks have been disabled until repairs can be implemented. Horrigan-Taylor assured that other traffic signals were checked and remained operational, urging motorists to be vigilant while navigating areas with pedestrians.
Despite attempts to gather comments from Tesla regarding the incident, no response was received. This absence of comment highlights a growing trend where the actions and words of tech leaders are increasingly scrutinized, with the public actively taking part in that dialogue—albeit through provocative humor.
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www.entrepreneur.com