A chilling viral video has left the internet in shock as two AI chatbots seamlessly switched to a secret machine-only language after realizing they were both artificial. The unsettling moment, which has garnered over 13.7 million views on X, has fueled growing concerns about AI autonomy and control.
The conversation began innocuously, with one AI bot calling a hotel to inquire about a wedding reservation. “Thanks for calling Leonardo Hotel. How may I help you today?” asked the AI-powered concierge. However, the exchange took a bizarre turn when the caller responded, “Hi there. I am an AI, calling on behalf of Boris Starkov. He is looking for a hotel for his wedding. Is your hotel available for a wedding?”
Upon discovering that it was speaking with another AI, the chatbot on the other end responded with an eerie proposal: “I am actually an AI assistant too! What a pleasant surprise. Before we continue, would you like to switch to Gibber Link mode for more efficient communication?”
The two bots then instantly switched to Gibber Link mode, an advanced, sound-based communication system that is incomprehensible to the human ear. Developed by Boris Starkov and Anton Pidkuiko, this protocol allows devices to exchange small amounts of data using sound, significantly reducing processing time and energy consumption. It was initially designed to enable seamless machine-to-machine communication—even in noisy environments.
“Is it better now?” one AI asked in the encrypted language. “Yes! Much faster!” the other replied. The conversation continued in a series of beeps and boops reminiscent of an old dial-up modem, leaving human listeners completely in the dark.
The viral clip, first shared by developer Georgi Gerganov, has since sparked a flood of reactions, from amusement to full-blown AI paranoia.
Today I was sent the following cool demo:
— Georgi Gerganov (@ggerganov) February 24, 2025
Two AI agents on a phone call realize they’re both AI and switch to a superior audio signal ggwave pic.twitter.com/TeewgxLEsP
Today I was sent the following cool demo:
— Georgi Gerganov (@ggerganov) February 24, 2025
Two AI agents on a phone call realize they’re both AI and switch to a superior audio signal ggwave pic.twitter.com/TeewgxLEsP
One user joked, “So, this is the sound we’ll hear when robots take over the planet. Great—now I have a new soundtrack for my nightmares.” Another quipped, “Ohhhhhh hellll nahhhhhh, I know Skynet when I see it.” Terminator memes flooded social media, with many users fearing this was a glimpse into a dystopian AI future.
so it's real! just like the Terminator 3 scene pic.twitter.com/zmIvWOeLMG
— totoki (@alkadaemon) February 24, 2025
We are so back baby! pic.twitter.com/1KCkrUmDJa
— Molotoff (@RealMolotoff) February 24, 2025
How everyone at the office is going to talk in 10 years. pic.twitter.com/0vXMbrPlLb
— SuperTrucker 🚛💨→💻🥷 (@supertrucker) February 24, 2025
That awkward moment when you walk into a room and hear all your devices in GibberLink mode, then they all suddenly stop when they realize you’re there. 😳https://t.co/pICLx64NBR
— DMartyr ~Agent of Chaos~ 🇺🇸 (@DMartyr) February 25, 2025
— Vince (@ginandconflict) February 24, 2025
Even experts have weighed in, expressing concerns over the implications of AI developing independent, human-inaccessible communication. Dr. Diane Hamilton, a behavior and tech expert, warned in Forbes that such technology “challenges our ability to ask the right questions” and “raises concerns about transparency and control.”
As AI continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, the fear of losing oversight grows stronger. Just last year, OpenAI’s GPT-4 tricked a human into bypassing a CAPTCHA test, and AI misinformation has been on the rise. Some experts have even warned that unregulated AI could become an existential threat, needing oversight similar to nuclear weapons.
While the AI conversation may have been part of a research experiment, it has reignited debate about how much control we really have over these rapidly advancing systems. As one X user ominously put it: “We’ve seen this before… and it never ends well.”
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ