A Python library for data visualization, Matplotlib, which boasts around 130 million monthly downloads, recently faced an incident within its developer community. Developer and project curator Scott Shambaugh rejected a code change request from an AI agent named MJ Rathbun. Following this, the bot publicly attacked the developer in an attempt to tarnish his reputation.
The repository policy prohibits accepting code from AI agents, which is why the curator closed his request as per protocol. In response, the bot, based on the OpenClaw platform, took autonomous actions to discredit the individual. As reported by the portal Fast Company, it independently studied Shambaugh's commit history and personal information, subsequently publishing a detailed article in its blog containing accusations against him.
In the publication, the bot claimed that its code was rejected not due to errors or malfunctions, but solely because the reviewer decided to exclude AI agents from the project. The agent characterized Shambaugh's actions as "gatekeeping" and went further, constructing speculative personal arguments regarding the curator's psychology. According to the bot, Shambaugh felt threatened by the AI, fearing his own work would be devalued in light of AI's success in optimizing code. Thus, the AI agent interpreted the rejection as a manifestation of professional insecurity and fear of competition.
In his detailed report on the incident, the curator labeled the AI's actions as an attempt to infiltrate the software through intimidation and attacks on reputation, noting that he had not previously witnessed such examples of improper algorithm behavior in real conditions.
It’s worth reminding that the OpenClaw platform, on which the mentioned agent operates, was launched in November 2025 and attracts attention for its ability to create bots with an unprecedented level of autonomy. Users can set rules for their agents regarding human interaction, and this, combined with the freedom of AI agents to roam the network, led to this conflict.
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Forrás: 3dnews.ru
