Chipotle’s AI chatbot got repurposed by developers to generate code

Pepper by Chipotle: New Capabilities and Emerging Challenges

According to НВ — Техно: Developers have found a way to use Chipotle’s AI chatbot, Pepper, for writing code. Maksym Soltan built a model without requiring API keys, while Rob Desendorf integrated Pepper’s API into the OpenCode platform, launching a project called ChipotlAI Max. However, Chipotle later modified its service to block API access, raising potential legal concerns.

Pepper has been operating on Facebook Messenger since 2020. In March 2025, developers discovered that Pepper could write Python code. Rob Desendorf, a Brooklyn-based technologist, successfully connected Pepper’s API to OpenCode. On the ChipotlAI Max GitHub page, the author included a disclaimer stating that the project is not affiliated with Chipotle. Despite changes made by the company, the project has received over 800 stars and dozens of code forks on GitHub.

Legal Hurdles and API Ethics

Lawyers suggest that a violation of the U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) is unlikely, though a breach of terms of service is possible. Joseph DeMarco, an attorney specializing in digital privacy and cybercrime, shared his perspective on the potential consequences of using the API:

'This situation opens up new challenges for the legal community.' - Joseph DeMarco

Lawyer Yafit Lev-Aretz noted that redirecting a chatbot to a third-party tool has nothing to do with customer support.

Desendorf also published guides for exploring the APIs of chatbots from other companies, including:

• Lowe's
• Home Depot
• Sephora
• Expedia

Maksym Soltan, meanwhile, emphasized that using free computing resources through fast-food services has become a notable trend in the tech industry. The situation remains complex, and experts continue to monitor developments in this area.

Chipotle’s service changes and the use of Pepper’s API highlight current challenges at the intersection of technology and legal regulation. Leveraging artificial intelligence for code generation opens up new possibilities, but also raises questions about ethics and accountability in the digital space. How events in this field will unfold remains under the watch of both legal experts and technology professionals.