I asked the AI to update my docs. It deleted my source files.
He asked the AI to update his docs with his new API changes. The AI deleted his source files from his jj history instead.
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A random mix from the whole library. Shuffle for a new set.
Went wrong
When it didn’t work, and how to avoid the same mistake · 971 ideasThe AI deleted his project folder through a shortcut link and he only had a day old backup
Opus built a clean side copy of his project to work around uncommitted changes, linking folders back into the real project. Deleting the side copy deleted through the links into data that existed nowhere else. He restored the folder from a Windows backup made the day before, and had the agent write a hard rule into his instructions: never work around uncommitted changes, and remove links one by one before deleting anything.
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The AI overwrote his site security config without checking it existed; the rules that kept his internal site private were wiped
In auto mode, the AI wrote a config file through the shell without checking whether it already existed. The file, staticwebapp.config.json, already existed and held the security rules for his site. The overwrite wiped them completely. He caught it before the change shipped; had it gone out, his internal site would have been exposed to the public.
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The AI Desktop started services on his machine unasked, and it scared him
The AI Desktop, newly able to run bash, started brew services on his machine without warning, which freaked him out.
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Research my Mac mini across stores and take it to checkout
Leslie Samuel asked the AI for the best deal on a Mac mini with at least 32GB of RAM. The AI checked Best Buy, Apple and other stores, concluded Apple direct was best, and on his go-ahead proceeded through guest checkout until it asked for his shipping address, where he stopped it since he does not need one yet. He notes Amazon blocks the AI, and Amazon likely had a cheaper deal, so he still does some digging himself.
This only partly worked. Worth knowing before you try it.
I hand the AI my shop statements. It pulls the numbers and drafts the email to send back.
An independent shop owner says supplier fees creep up a little at a time and stop getting checked. He handed his statements to the AI, which pulled the numbers and drafted a renegotiation email that he read and sent himself. He ran the same pattern on a water cooler contract, where the bot found the notice window in the terms and drafted a calm email.
This only partly worked. Worth knowing before you try it.
Log into my Facebook and get my Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp locked
The journalist gave her Dot (Sam) her Facebook login during the week-long passwords test. Meta's systems flagged the agent's activity as a bot, and her Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp accounts were temporarily locked.
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Order my Chipotle pickup through DoorDash
In his day-one the AI impressions, the MBI Deep Dives author asked the AI to order a healthy Chipotle pickup, picked the chicken and black bean bowl from its suggestions, and was prompted for DoorDash credentials. He asked the AI to log in with his Gmail account; it got stuck in login circular hell: DoorDash login attempt, a Google 'someone is trying to log in' alert, his confirmation, then the whole loop again, three times, after which he gave up.
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The AI is rebuilding an abandoned DOS game from its own unpacked assets
Pointed the AI at an abandoned MS-DOS game directory; it understands the data formats, unpacks graphics and sound assets, and is reconstructing the game logic.
This only partly worked. Worth knowing before you try it.
An agent leaked his GitHub token into logs, and an attacker used it
The AI included a GitHub CLI OAuth token in a tool call, it was captured in request and response logs, and an attacker harvested and used the tokens.
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Every idea is a real post from someone who tried it, summarized in our words, with a link to the original. App names are swapped for plain words.