magazine
2025.09.16

The Truth Behind the 'Invisible Commands' Controlling AI Agents | Focus #533

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Cover photo by tk

A single 'casual photo' taken with your camera or smartphone might actually serve as a hidden command for AI agents. This surprising research finding has been unveiled.

Within seemingly ordinary landscape or portrait photos, there may be 'pixel traps' invisible to humans, which could cause AI to 'misinterpret' the image.

This discovery not only raises security concerns but also offers a new perspective on images as a medium of expression for those of us who take, edit, and share photos.

The 'Hidden Face' of Photos in the AI Era

In recent years, AI agents have evolved beyond simple chatbots to entities capable of automating tasks like sending emails or operating apps. However, behind this convenience lies a new threat: the misuse of visual data.

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Photo by natsu

A study by Oxford University demonstrated that by slightly altering the pixels in landscape or portrait images, AI could mistakenly interpret them as commands.

Can Wallpapers Become Weapons?

Desktop wallpapers and images posted on social media are particularly vulnerable because AI agents often take periodic screenshots of screens.

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Photo by みけ

As photographers or designers, creators must re-evaluate the influence of visual expression. It’s no longer just about 'what you capture' but also 'how it’s interpreted' that matters in this era.

Balancing Creativity and Security

This issue doesn’t suppress creativity. Instead, it provides an opportunity to deepen our understanding of image creation and editing. For instance, applying image compression or random blurring processes could potentially prevent AI from misinterpreting images.

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Photo by まおち

Photographers of the future will need both technical skills to protect their images and the artistic sensibility to convey their intentions accurately.

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