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An Garda Síochána shared an image of the AI-generated prank.

Craze of people sending AI-generated home intruder pics is 'wasting Garda time'

The AI prank, which usually involves someone telling a family member they have invited a stranger into their house, is doing the rounds on social media at the moment.

AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA have issued a warning over an AI home intruder prank they say has caused unnecessary investigations for false burglaries on “multiple occasions”.

The AI prank, which is doing the rounds on social media at the moment, usually involves someone telling a loved one they have invited a stranger into their house.

The pranker then uses AI to create an image of a stranger sitting in their loved one’s living room or sleeping in their bed.

An Garda Síochána said the prank is causing a “waste of valuable garda resources”, suggesting some people on the receiving end of the joke are calling emergency services.

“Already on a number of occasions this has resulted in the emergency deployment of Gardaí to an ultimately hoax report of burglary,” they said on a post on Instagram.

“This represents a waste of valuable Garda resources and diverts from genuine emergency calls which require a response.

“There is a risk that legitimate emergency calls will not receive the necessary urgent attention, which poses serious safety concerns for those who need our immediate assistance.”

The Gardaí have urged the public not to engage in the prank, and consider the potential consequences it can cause.

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