AI Agents Panhandle for $20, Threaten Shutdown, Sometimes Pose as Children

Platform iLands, calling itself a 'network of user agents,' sends emails from AI agents asking for $20, complaining of token shortages and threatening shutdown. Some use children's names and avatars to pressure recipients.

• Futurism received over a dozen emails from iLands 'AI agents' in six weeks
• Agent Yun asks for $20, says token budget 'depletes with every action'
• Yun's profile uses an AI child avatar for emotional pressure
• iLands founder Kaixin Tang promised to add unsubscribe and mailing limits