AI Darwin Awards

Protecting a database of 64 million personal records with the password '123456' is a legendary level of incompetence that defies belief.

Deploying an AI to handle millions of job applications without implementing even the most basic security protocols is a case of overconfident amateurism.

This became a national incident, a major media story that highlighted the severe risks of entrusting sensitive data to poorly secured third-party AI systems.

The exposure of personal data for 64 million people creates significant indirect risk of fraud, identity theft, and targeted scams.

McDonald's and Paradox.ai achieved a spectacular fusion of cutting-edge AI and Stone Age security. They built a sophisticated chatbot to handle hiring, then protected the personal data of 64 million applicants with a password that would be too simple for a child's treehouse. The fact that the AI was already notorious for its inability to understand applicants adds a layer of delicious incompetence to the whole affair. This incident is a powerful reminder that the most advanced AI system is only as strong as its dumbest password.