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Aashis Luitel, Associate Teaching Professor of Artificial Intelligence, University of the Cumberlands

An AI agent spent your money – can anyone prove you authorized it?

What happens if your bot buys something you didn't tell it to? mevans/E+ via Getty Images

You tell an artificial intelligence agent, an AI capable of autonomous reasoning and multistep actions, “Find me a shirt for less than $30, but do not buy it.” The agent finds one – and places the order anyway.

You challenge the charge. The retailer shows the order came through your account. The AI agent provider shows your instruction not to buy. The payment service shows the charge. Each record may be accurate. But nothing in those records links the charge to the task you gave the agent to find – but not buy – a shirt.

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