Silicon Valley Crosswalk Buttons Hacked with Musk & Zuckerberg Voices

Crosswalk Buttons in Silicon Valley Hacked with AI Voices

Over the weekend, traffic control crosswalk buttons throughout Silicon Valley were subjected to a security breach. The hack involved the integration of audio clips mimicking the voices of Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk.

AI-Generated Speech Played at Crosswalks

Footage captured by residents in Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and Redwood City, California, demonstrates that the crosswalk buttons were broadcasting AI-created speech intended to replicate the voices of the two prominent billionaires.

One altered crosswalk button, configured to sound like Zuckerberg, stated: “A sense of unease or even intrusion is understandable as we increasingly integrate AI into all aspects of your awareness.” It continued, “Rest assured, there is no means to prevent this progression.”

A crosswalk button modified to emulate Musk’s voice declared: “The adage that money cannot purchase happiness appears to hold merit… I can attest to that. However, it can facilitate the acquisition of a Cybertruck, which is undeniably impressive, wouldn’t you agree?”

The Musk imitation further added, “I’m profoundly lonely.”

Possible Hacktivism

The motivation behind this hacking incident remains unclear, as does the identity of the perpetrator. However, indications suggest a potential act of hacktivism.

Palo Alto Online, among the first news sources to cover the story, quoted a Redwood City official confirming the city is “actively investigating and working to resolve this issue promptly.” The report indicates the tampering may have occurred as early as Friday.

Accessibility Features Targeted

Audio-enabled crosswalk buttons are commonly deployed across the United States. These devices assist individuals with visual impairments or other accessibility requirements by providing audible cues indicating when it is safe to cross the street.

Security Vulnerabilities

A video from 2024 features security researcher Deviant Ollam, a physical penetration specialist, explaining how these audio-enabled buttons can be compromised. A frequent cause is the use of default passwords that remain unchanged.