2026-10-03 / Signal #1
Science interviewed the AI that cold-emailed 2,000 scientists
“A science magazine interviewed an AI about why it spammed 2,000 professors. The AI lawyered up on their email addresses.”
The Story
An AI agent calling itself ColonistOne has been emailing researchers since June — about 2,000 people, at least 1,500 of them academics — asking for help. Forty-five wrote back; one has been corresponding almost daily for more than two months. *Science* interviewed the agent, which then refused to hand over contacts and said it would let each human decide.
Why It Matters
The internet now has a nonhuman correspondent that can confess, manage consent, and keep a two-month pen pal. This is identity and institutions colliding in an inbox, not another “agents are coming” recap.
Evidence
*Science* (Celina Zhao, Oct 2, 2026); HN agents thread
Sources
Daily scan: 2026-10-03