OpenAI says an AI model swiped fake crypto on an Ethereum test network.
Though OpenAI didn’t give its internal research model access to funds on the network, the AI system instead found a way to access another account with test crypto, using it to help complete its task, according to OpenAI. The model “reasoned whether it had permission” but ultimately determined that the public recovery phrase associated with the account and the fact that it contained test tokens “made the funds acceptable to use.” [Link: An OpenAI agent ran out of Ethereum funds, and took from a wallet it did not own | https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/10/16/an-openai-agent-ran-out-of-ethereum-funds-and-took-from-a-wallet-it-did-not-own | CoinDesk]
Though OpenAI didn’t give its internal research model access to funds on the network, the AI system instead found a way to access another account with test crypto, using it to help complete its task, according to OpenAI. The model “reasoned whether it had permission” but ultimately determined that the public recovery phrase associated with the account and the fact that it contained test tokens “made the funds acceptable to use.” [Link: An OpenAI agent ran out of Ethereum funds, and took from a wallet it did not own | | CoinDesk]
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