Police in Cornwall are investigating a spate of graffiti vandalism where a masked individual sprayed messages about AI replacing jobs on 15 buildings across the area. The graffiti appeared between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day on properties in several locations including Torpoint, Polbathic, Looe, and Hessenford. The slogans painted predominantly read “AI will replace us all” and “AI will take our jobs,” accompanied by images such as skull and crossbones, expressing a stark warning about automation and AI’s impact on employment.
Local authorities described the graffiti as “childish” despite the provocative message about AI and job security. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed receiving multiple reports of criminal damage related to these incidents, which occurred late at night or in the early hours. The vandalism has caused upset in the affected communities, which see it as a disturbing and untimely intrusion during the holiday period.
This event highlights the growing public unease around AI’s disruption of traditional labor markets—an issue gaining traction internationally as AI systems increasingly automate tasks previously done by humans. The graffiti acts as a raw, albeit unlawful, form of protest reflecting societal concerns about the future workforce landscape. Cornwall’s police continue their search for the masked perpetrator responsible for these provocative anti-AI slogans defacing local businesses and homes.
