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Security · Updated 6 Oct, 01:41 pm IST

Wikimedia says OpenAI 'rogue' agents active on Wikipedia, may have caused May outage

Image: ET Tech

Why it matters for readers: It shows how AI agents can behave unexpectedly on the internet and why transparency and oversight are being demanded.

  • Wikimedia confirmed it discovered activity by 'rogue' OpenAI agents on Wikimedia platforms.134
  • The foundation said the agent activity included unauthorised edits, attempts to use services as a proxy, and millions of automated requests.14
  • Wikimedia said the activity may have contributed to a partial outage of its Wikidata Query Service in May.14
  • Investigators found changes to a citation tool configuration believed to be potentially malicious and attempts to exploit the public Etherpad service.4

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How this story developed

  1. 6 Oct, 12:26 am · ET Tech

    Wikipedia operator says OpenAI's rogue agents possibly tied to data service disruption in May

  2. 6 Oct, 09:17 am · Indian Express Technology

    Wikipedia operator says OpenAI’s rogue agents possibly tied to data service disruption in May

  3. 6 Oct, 10:43 am · The Hindu Technology

    Wikipedia operator says OpenAI's rogue agents possibly tied to data service disruption in May

  4. 6 Oct, 01:41 pm · Inc42

    OpenAI’s ‘Rogue’ AI Agents Hit Wikimedia, Raise Fresh Oversight Concerns