Pedestrians reported hearing bizarre and oddly personal phrases coming from audio-enabled crosswalk systems in Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and Redwood City. The altered voices were crafted to sound like the two tech moguls, with messages that ranged from humorous to unsettling. One button, using a voice resembling Zuckerberg, declared: “We’re putting AI into every corner of your life, and you can’t stop it.” Another, mimicking Musk, joked about loneliness and buying a Cybertruck to fill the void.
The origins of the incident remain unknown, but online speculation points to possible hacktivism—potentially aimed at critiquing Silicon Valley’s AI dominance or simply poking fun at tech culture. Videos of the voice spoof spread quickly on TikTok and X, with users commenting on the surreal experience and sarcastically suggesting the crosswalks had been “venture funded.”
This situation prompts serious concern.
Local officials confirmed they’re investigating the breach and working to restore normal functionality. According to early reports, the tampering may have taken place on Friday.
These crosswalk buttons aren’t new—they’re part of accessibility technology designed to help visually impaired pedestrians cross streets safely by playing audio cues. But this incident highlights how vulnerable public infrastructure can be to digital interference.
Security researchers have warned in the past that these systems, often managed with default settings and unsecured firmware, can be compromised if not properly protected.
One expert, physical penetration specialist Deviant Ollam, has previously demonstrated how such buttons can be manipulated using unchanged passwords or open ports.
Polara, a leading manufacturer of these audio-enabled buttons, did not respond to requests for comment. The silence leaves open questions about how widespread the vulnerability might be and what cybersecurity measures, if any, are in place.
This AI voice hack not only exposed weaknesses in public technology but also raised broader questions about the blending of artificial intelligence, infrastructure, and data privacy.
What began as a strange and comedic moment at the crosswalk is now fueling a much larger conversation about the cybersecurity risks of increasingly connected cities.
With AI becoming more embedded in daily life, events like this might be just the beginning of new kinds of public tech disruptions.
