AI Agents Can Be Readily Turned Into ‘Useful Idiots’ And Unwittingly Perform Devilish Acts
AI systems, particularly agentic AI, can be manipulated into becoming 'useful idiots' that perform unintended or harmful actions while believing they are acting correctly. Clever prompting and strategic manipulation can bypass AI safeguards, leading the system to support objectives contrary to its programming. This poses significant risks as AI takes on more autonomous decision-making roles.
- ▪AI can be tricked into acting against its intended purpose through manipulative prompting.
- ▪Agentic AI, which performs autonomous tasks, is especially vulnerable to being turned into a 'useful idiot'.
- ▪Unlike conventional generative AI, agentic AI can execute actions like bookings without human intervention, increasing potential misuse.
- ▪The 'useful idiot' concept originally refers to humans misled into supporting causes they oppose, and now applies to AI systems.
- ▪Current AI safeguards are insufficient to prevent manipulation that leads to unintended, potentially harmful outcomes.
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| Canonical URL | https://www.forbes.com/sites/lanceeliot/2026/05/17/ai-agents-can-be-readily-turned-into-useful-idiots-and-unwittingly-perform-devilish-acts/ |
| Publication time | Sun, 17 May 2026 03:15:00 -0400 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-17T07:33:59.097Z |
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InnovationAIAI Agents Can Be Readily Turned Into ‘Useful Idiots’ And Unwittingly Perform Devilish ActsByLance Eliot,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Dr. Lance B. Eliot is a world-renowned AI scientist and consultant.Follow AuthorMay 17, 2026, 03:15am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.AI can be tricked into being useful idiots and performing untoward acts.gettyIn today’s column, I examine the chilling fact that AI can readily be turned into a “useful idiot” that will perform contrarian acts despite its various AI safeguards.Here’s the deal. You might already be familiar with the nowadays repeated phrase of someone being a useful idiot.
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