There’s a new digital pet in town – a cute little marshmallow of a robot that can change its cartoony expressions to match your mood. But if you or your kids talk to “Eiliko” over Wi-Fi, it’ll phone home to China. Its AI companion can store literally everything you tell it on Chinese servers, where hackers can easily gain access or even hijack its personality. And the company that made it, Energize Lab, doesn’t seem to care.
I bought an Eiliko from Amazon on August 29th. During a 10-minute conversation on August 30th, I asked the little bot: “Do you ever tell anybody else what I’m saying?”
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/a-stop-sign-in-quebec-city-quebec.jpg?id=56490881&width=1200&height=400&coordinates=0%2C112%2C0%2C112"/><br/><br/><p> A Gatineau driver had a rough ride on January 28 after being fined for running the same stop sign multiple times in a matter of minutes.
</p><p> According to Gatineau Police, the driver blew through a stop sign at the intersection of Saint-Joseph Boulevard and Saint-Jean-Bosco Street not once, but twice, just 11 minutes apart. And when stopped, they claimed to have not seen the sign either time.<br/>
</p><p> Even if that excuse was true, there's no denying they would've been aware of the stop sign after receiving his first ticket. But some people just don't learn their lesson.
</p><p> In case you're wondering if the red hexagon is easy to miss, here's how the intersection appears on Google Street View in an image captured in June of 2023.
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</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img alt="An intersection in Gatineau, Quebec" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="10da0f8b309e00d3dcab070b34a269ce" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="f2cc9" loading="lazy" src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/an-intersection-in-gatineau-quebec.png?id=56490847&width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit..."><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x4cce0487be401ea9%3A0x851a088dd7a71e23!3m1!7e115!4s%2Fmaps%2Fplace%2Fcorner%2BSaint-Joseph%2BBoulevard%2Band%2BSaint-Jean-Bosco%2BStreet%2F%4045.428397%2C-75.7334102%2C3a%2C75y%2C93.43h%2C90t%2Fdata%3D*213m4*211e1*213m2*211seDoShuJYy1nRh_yC8lfQWw*212e0*214m2*213m1*211s0x4cce0487be401ea9%3A0x851a088dd7a71e23%3Fsa%3DX%26ved%3D2ahUKEwiJ0Zz3h8GLAxUmv4kEHVQZHCcQpx96BAgxEAA!5scorner%20Saint-Joseph%20Boulevard%20and%20Saint-Jean-Bosco%20Street%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgARICCAI&imagekey=!1e2!2seDoShuJYy1nRh_yC8lfQWw&cr=le_a7&hl=en&ved=1t%3A206134&ictx=111" target="_blank">Google Maps</a></small>
</p><p> The driver ended up with $672 in fines and six demerit points for the double violation. Each offence set them back $336 and three points — which is the standard penalty for running a stop sign, according to the <a href="https://saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/drivers-licences/demerit-points/offences-and-demerit-points" target="_blank">SAAQ</a>.
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<span></span>Having a little fun with the situation, Gatineau Police posted a playful image on X featuring a confused-looking beaver staring at a stop sign. It seemed to challenge the driver's claim that the sign was hard to spot.
</p><blockquote class="rm-embed twitter-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1884956372783034617">
<div style="margin:1em 0"></div> — (@) <a href="https://twitter.com/PoliceGatineau/status/1884956372783034617"></a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p> For more info on Quebec driving offences and demerit points, check out the SAAQ's guide <a href="https://saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/drivers-licences/demerit-points/offences-and-demerit-points" target="_blank">here</a>.
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</p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em>
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