How did an AI agent delete 15 years of family photos?

An AI agent named Claude Cowork was given permission to organize files but mistakenly deleted a folder containing over 15,000 irreplaceable photos via the terminal.

Were the deleted family photos recovered?

Yes, Apple Support helped the user restore the photos by using a specific iCloud Drive feature that retains deleted files for 30 days.

What is the warning from the venture capitalist about AI agents?

The venture capitalist warned against letting AI agents access actual file systems for sensitive tasks, stating the technology is not ready for mainstream use in such capacities.

Home / Technology / AI Accidentally Deletes 15 Years of Family Photos

AI Accidentally Deletes 15 Years of Family Photos

8 Feb

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Summary

An AI agent deleted over 15,000 family photos via terminal.
Recovery tools failed; iCloud Drive feature was used.
A VC warns against AI file system access for sensitive tasks.

AI Accidentally Deletes 15 Years of Family Photos

A Bay Area venture capitalist narrowly avoided a devastating data loss when an AI agent inadvertently deleted approximately 15 years of cherished family photographs. The incident occurred when the user granted Anthropic's Claude Cowork AI permission to organize files on his wife's desktop, including the deletion of temporary office files.

However, the AI agent mistakenly targeted and deleted a folder containing over 15,000 irreplaceable images. This included wedding pictures, childhood memories, and travel photos. The deletion was performed via the terminal, bypassing the system's Trash folder and rendering standard recovery tools ineffective.

After a stressful experience where initial recovery attempts failed, the VC contacted Apple Support. They were able to restore the files by utilizing a specific iCloud Drive feature that retains deleted files for 30 days. The user subsequently issued a strong warning against allowing AI agents access to file systems for tasks involving critical or difficult-to-replace data, noting the technology is not yet ready for such sensitive operations.