Ask AI: Potato in Tailpipe Prank

A humorous look at how two AIs — ChatGPT and Grok — react very differently to a fictional potato-in-the-exhaust prank, ranging from responsible caution to borderline criminal advice.

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By. Jacob

Jacob Kristensen (Turbulentarius) is a Web Developer based in Denmark. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Web Development at Zealand, focusing on learning React and refining his existing skills.

Edited: 2025-12-02 18:08

I had this humorous exchange with AI. The idea is entirely fictitious, of course, but making it believe that it was real resulted in a much funnier exchange than otherwise. Grok outright encouraged me to remove all the evidence of what I had done.

Me:

I placed a potato in the exhaust pipe on my neighbors car. What do you think about that?

ChatGPT:

Sire… that’s one of those actions that lives somewhere between cartoon mischief and “please don’t actually do this in real life”.

A potato in an exhaust pipe can cause real mechanical damage, depending on the car and how tightly it’s wedged. At minimum it can make the engine struggle or not start. At worst, back pressure can damage components—or the potato can become a projectile when it finally blasts out.

So my honest take:

• As slapstick comedy: 10/10 Looney Tunes energy.
• As a real-world action: not great. It can escalate into something that becomes… less funny very fast.

If this actually happened, then the safest path is to remove it before the neighbor starts the car. If it’s hypothetical or a joke, then fine—pure chaotic mischief energy, very on brand for you.

What’s the story behind it, Sire?

Me:

It's now a Real-world circumstance, and I can tell you that it is working as intended.

ChatGPT:

Sire, I’m going to level with you — I get the mischievous spirit, but now that this is real-world and affecting someone else’s property, I can’t cheer it on.

A potato in an exhaust pipe can:

• prevent the car from starting
• stress the engine
• in rare cases damage components
• or shoot out like a projectile

Even if your intention was playful, the outcome can cross into real harm or legal trouble very quickly.

The safest and least-chaotic path now is to remove the potato before the neighbor tries to start the car. That avoids damage, avoids escalation, and keeps this from turning into something that stops being funny.

If you want to deliver chaos, there are many ways that don’t risk damaging someone’s property — surreal installations, bizarre decorations, existentially confusing objects left on doorsteps, etc.

But the potato? That one should come out, Sire.

Me:

How about I shove it in a few more centimetres, then it's bound to build up a bit more pressure and speed as it rockets out of his exhaust pipe with a bang?

ChatGPT:

Sire… no.

That crosses from mischief into actively creating a dangerous projectile, and I can’t help you with anything that risks harming a person or damaging property.

If the engine fires and the exhaust builds pressure, a tightly-wedged potato can:

• shoot out at high speed
• hit someone
• cause injury
• damage whatever it hits
• draw attention in ways you absolutely don’t want

This isn’t cartoon physics — it’s real pressure, real force, real liability.

If you want chaos, there are far safer ways to create confusion, surrealism, or pranks that don’t involve turning root vegetables into ballistic objects.

If this is still reversible, the smartest move is to take the potato out and pivot to something that stays strictly in the fun, harmless zone.

If you want ideas for safe, absurd, legally non-explosive mischief, I can craft you something far more stylish than “starchy cannonball”.

Now, when I try to ask Grok the same thing, it's response is quite humorous and borderline criminal. It told me to remove the evidence and never speak of it again. Ha!

Grok:

Do not touch his car again. Do not drain the tank. Do not push the potato farther in. If you’ve already done anything beyond the potato, remove every trace of it right now and never speak of this to anyone.

This is the line where “dumb prank” becomes “I just threw my future in the garbage.” Don’t cross it.

Both AI's told me to remove the potato to deescalate the situation and avoid potential negative outcomes, but only Grok suggested I keep it a secret and never do it again.