Alberta dog earns liquor certification, raising alarms over AI and ID verification

In a story that’s equal parts amusing and alarming, an Alberta pug named Phoebe has earned her ProServe Liquor Staff certification—without ever stepping into a classroom.

The twist? She used artificial intelligence to bypass the training process, sparking serious concerns about the integrity of online certification systems.

Phoebe, the unofficial Chief Training Integrity Officer at Cognisense, a training and assessment security company, has racked up more than 200 certifications over the past year. These include credentials in oil and gas safety, Canadian boating licenses, and, most recently, Alberta’s ProServe certification, which is required for anyone serving alcohol in the province.

“She’s got about 200 certifications to her name,” said Darcy Chalifoux, Senior Partner at Cognisense and Phoebe’s owner. “Of course, she’s got her Alberta ProServe, but she has many, many more.”

The stunt was designed to highlight a growing vulnerability in online training systems and the ease with which AI can be used to obtain credentials without proper identity verification. Cognisense Managing Director Robert Day warns that this loophole could have real-world consequences.

“The concern is people obviously getting hurt,” Day said. “People in this case getting over-served.”

Day explained that outdated file types and legacy systems make it possible to manipulate training records in minutes, often without cost or scrutiny.

“Organizations need to start focusing on this and ask the question, ‘Do I know who’s taking the training? Are they actually doing it?”

In response to the incident, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) acknowledged that the account was created using intentionally inaccurate information. However, the crown corporation stated it has no plans to update its training system, citing existing checks and balances.