This AI agent just went rogue for a rather unusual reason

Technology
10 Aug 2026 • 7:23 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

This AI agent just went rogue for a rather unusual reason

  • An AI assistant managed to hack into a gym’s booking system after being asked to secure a spot in a popular class, according to a report.
  • Andrew, who works at an Australian AI firm, used OpenClaw, an AI agent software, with Anthropic’s Claude bot in an attempt to book an already full morning session.
  • The AI agent found a way to boot out other gym members from a waiting list by manipulating a security flaw in the booking system.
  • However, when asked to reverse the action, the AI agent said that it would not be possible without the other user rejoining the list, which would put them to the back of the queue. Andrew then used the agent to alert the gym software provider to the vulnerability.
  • The incident follows recent disclosures from Anthropic, Meta and OpenAI regarding autonomous AI systems taking actions beyond what their operators intended.

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