A Redditor used Claude Code AI to build a Mac temperature monitor app and found that the machine was running much hotter than expected. Claude reported that it found a crypto miner using more than 1,000% of the CPU cycles – then added an unprompted comment denying having installed it.
Some Redditors were understandably suspicious of Claude’s spontaneous comment that it wasn’t responsible for installing the rogue app …
Redditor UntilHEX shared the Claude report on the reason for the overheating (via Macworld).
“Most important: your Mac is running a cryptominer that I didn’t put there. While checking sensor accuracy | saw xmrig using about 1175% CPU, roughly 12 cores. That is why your temperatures are so high, with the CPU peaking at 112°C.”
About all that seemed to be missing from Claude’s comment was the word “totally.”
Redditors had split views on the suspicious-sounding comment, but it seems more likely to be a training artifact than an AI gone rogue.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:
Apple’s Mac lineup consists of MacBook, MacBoo…
Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!
