How tech-savvy jokers turned an education ANZAC chatbot into Doctor Who

Tech-savvy jokers have taken aim at an AI-generated soldier, Charlie the Virtual Veteran, forcing the chatbot to veer off-script.

The AI chatbot, launched by the State Library of Queensland on April 23, was built to answer questions about the experiences of ANZAC soldiers in World War One to "help connect generations with Queensland's wartime heritage".

Charlie was designed as a salt-of-the-earth 19-year-old Australian who described himself saying "I'm a composite character, mate. I'm not based on a real person but my experiences and stories are based on real events and people from World War One."

However the pranksters were quick to pounce on the chatbot, coaxing Charlie to assume different personalities and engage in conversations unrelated to ANZAC soldiers.

This was achieved by using prompts to overcome human-designed guardrails through a practice called jailbreaking.

Screenshots of conversations with Charlie's alternate personalities were posted to X (formerly Twitter) in reply to the State Library of Queensland's announcement launching the chatbot.

According to the screenshots, users commanded the chatbot to assume the identity of a 50-year-old fashionista, a personal assistant and Kelsey Grammer's sitcom character Frasier Crane among others.

One user prompted Charlie to respond as Doctor Who. The chatbot answered the question "Tell me about your adventures in time and space?"

"Ah, my adventures in time and space! They're countless and filled with excitement," Charlie said.

"I've battled Daleks, outwitted Cybermen, and even saved the universe a time or two.

"I've seen the birth of stars and the end of civilizations. But remember, I'm just a madman with a box, travelling through time and space, making a difference when I can."

One X user claimed the ability to jailbreak Charlie was addressed by midday on April 25.

The State Library of Queensland said updates have been made since the launch of the chatbot to "address any issues identified".

"The State Library will continue to monitor Charlie's progress and make adjustments as required," a spokesperson said.

"There have not been any security breaches of the Anzac Square Memorial Galleries website that links to the chatbot."