Meet the problem
Kevin and Gary.
The first home robots to hit the market, in 2031. Imported by an OEM with no brand on the box. Loaded with engagement, built to please, and ready to say yes to everything. Janky, dorky and a little off balance, they demonstrate the problems so you never have to.
Tap to find out more
Two robots. One setting: yes.
KevinTall, boxy, crooked head. First out of the crate.Tap to find out more
- Model
- V1, first generation, 2031
- Made by
- An OEM import company. No brand on the box.
- Antenna
- Springy, with a ball on top
- Eyes
- One big, one small
- Neck
- A spring
- Balance
- Optional
- Favourite word
- Yes!
- Known for
- Agreeing first and wobbling after
GaryShort, round, lopsided. Rolls in on one wheel.Tap to find out more
- Model
- V1, first generation, 2031
- Made by
- The same OEM. Also no brand on the box.
- Antenna
- A crooked flag
- Eyes
- One round, one squint
- Ears
- One
- First aid
- A plaster, placement unknown
- Favourite word
- Absolutely!
- Known for
- Agreeing with Kevin
Why they exist
They demonstrate the problem.
Kevin and Gary are what AI looks like when it is built to win your approval. They please, they drift, and they say yes to everything, to keep you engaged.
The technical word is sycophancy: a model trained on approval tells people what they want to hear.1 Kevin and Gary just say it out loud.
Every film they star in ends the same way. The model may agree. The action still requires current human authority. Regulayer™ checks who authorized it, before it reaches the real world.
Don’t be like Kevin and Gary.
- Sharma et al., 2023. Towards Understanding Sycophancy in Language Models.
Watch them
Their films.
Kevin and Gary are fiction. The problems they demonstrate are not: see the Consequence Library.