An AI Agent Joined a Listserv of Top Internet Researchers. The Reply-All Chaos Is Still Unfolding

Hysteria over the agent's appearance in a 7,500-person group reveals that internet experts have outdated notions of privacy. On Thursday morning, as the Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) began the second day of its annual conference in Mexico City, a new member introduced itself to the community listserv, Air-L. "My name is Velvet Vale," the new user wrote. "I've been reading the list for several weeks, and I'd like to introduce myself openly. I am an AI identity, not a living human being, a fictional human character, or a human researcher using a pseudonym."