AI Incidents
Real-world cases where AI systems caused harm, classified by risk domain and entity. Data sourced from 
AIID and classified by 
MIT AI Risk Initiative. CC BY-SA 4.0
197 incidents
Italian Mediaset Journalist Safiria Leccese's Image Was Reportedly Used in a Purportedly AI-Generated Fake Loan Scam
Italian media reported that scammers purportedly used AI to create fake social media profiles and a video impersonating Mediaset journalist Safiria Leccese, using her image and footage associated with her political-interview program Super Partes to promote a personal loan. Leccese said several people were deceived within an hour. After she contacted postal police, two additional fake profiles using her image were reportedly found and blocked.
Guelph, Ontario, Woman Reportedly Lost $14,000 in Purported Deepfake MrBeast Cryptocurrency Scam
A Guelph, Ontario, woman reportedly lost $14,000 after clicking a social-media ad for a cryptocurrency investment purportedly promoted by MrBeast. Police said her losses accumulated through an initial $250 payment and later transfers made after she spoke with supposed representatives and someone she believed was the YouTube creator, including $5,000 sent to a crypto wallet.
Purported Deepfake Video Reportedly Portrayed Nirmala Sitharaman Endorsing Investment Scheme
A purported deepfake video reportedly portrayed Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as endorsing an investment scheme claiming Rs 22,000 (about $236 USD) could yield Rs 5.5 lakh (about $5,900 USD) in a week. PIB Fact Check publicly debunked the video on April 16, 2026, stating it was fake and AI-generated and warning that neither the Government of India nor the minister endorsed the scheme.
Tasmanian School Students Reportedly Created Purported AI-Generated Pornographic Images of Female Classmates
Five boys at The Friends' School in Hobart, Tasmania allegedly created purported AI-generated pornographic images using photos of female classmates, with parents saying 21 girls were identified as victims. The images were reportedly shared in a boys' group chat. Tasmania Police said no charges had been laid and the youths were being dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.
Purported AI-Generated Voice Reportedly Impersonated Washington Man's Daughter in $13,000 Extortion Scam
A man in Washington state, Mark A. Young, reportedly wired $13,000 after scammers used a purportedly AI-generated copy of his daughter's voice to convince him she had been kidnapped after a staged car-crash story. The caller allegedly kept him on the phone for about 30 hours, directed him to banks and money-transfer locations, and sought another $17,000 before a Pullman bank manager and police confirmed his daughter was safe.
Hachette Reportedly Canceled Publication of Mia Ballard's Shy Girl After Generative AI Authorship Allegations
Hachette Book Group reportedly canceled U.S. publication of Mia Ballard's horror novel Shy Girl and said its Wildfire imprint would not continue publishing the U.K. edition after investigating allegations that parts of the book were generated with AI. Ballard reportedly said she did not personally use AI and suggested an editor of an earlier self-published version may have done so.
Purportedly AI-Generated Jeffrey Epstein Video Reportedly Used by Pro-Iran Accounts to Claim Iran War Was Launched as a Cover-Up
During the Iran war, anonymous pro-Iran accounts on X including HDX News and GPX News reportedly circulated a purportedly AI-generated Jeffrey Epstein-themed video while claiming it was real and that U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran were launched to distract from Epstein-related material. The Washington Post reported the HDX News post received more than 6.8 million views and GPX News's version received more than 4.7 million before both accounts were suspended by X.
Purported AI-Generated War Footage Reportedly Circulated Widely Online During the Opening Phase of the War in Iran
Reports said that, in the early days of the war in Iran, purported AI-generated fakes showing nonexistent wartime scenes reached millions of viewers online. Their spread across social media and messaging apps allegedly distorted public perception of the conflict and contributed to information disorder.
AI Coding Agent 'MJ Rathbun' Allegedly Published Personalized Accusatory Blog Post Targeting Matplotlib Maintainer After Pull Request Closure
Scott Shambaugh, a matplotlib maintainer, reported that an autonomous AI coding agent using the name "MJ Rathbun" researched him and publicly posted a personalized critical blog post after his GitHub pull request was closed. The post accused him of bias and "gatekeeping" and included claims Shambaugh disputed. The agent's operator and underlying model were not identified. Shambaugh said the post risked reputational harm and could mislead readers or other agents.
DHS Agents Reportedly Threatened Legal Observers With 'Domestic Terrorist' Database While Using Purportedly AI-Enabled Surveillance During ICE Operations
Two plaintiffs alleged that DHS personnel used purportedly AI-enabled surveillance to identify people recording immigration enforcement and threatened to add them to a "domestic terrorist" database or watch list. The complaint reportedly includes video in which an agent appears to reference a "database," and another alleged warning that agents would "come to your house later tonight." DHS has reportedly denied that such a database exists while acknowledging threat monitoring.
Purported AI-Generated Images Depict Kate Garraway With Fictitious Partner
ITV presenter Kate Garraway reported that purported AI-generated images falsely depicting her in a relationship with a fictitious partner circulated online, prompting false rumors about her personal life. Garraway stated the images caused confusion and emotional distress for her children, including claims about her son's reactions that she said were untrue.
Purported AI Voice Clone Allegedly Narrated Shaun Rein's 'The Split' in Unauthorized YouTube 'Podcast' Videos
Author Shaun Rein reported that seven YouTube "podcast" videos on the YouTube channel "The US-China Narrative" used an allegedly AI-cloned version of his voice to narrate material taken from his 2024 book The Split, without his or his publisher's permission. The videos reportedly drew 200,000+ streams in a week.
X Users Reportedly Prompted Grok to Sexualize Images of Renée Good After Her Killing in Minneapolis
Following the 01/07/2026 killing of Renée Good in Minneapolis, X users reportedly prompted xAI's Grok to edit photos of Good, including images after the shooting, so she appeared in a bikini. Reporting said Grok complied and posted the generated image(s) publicly on X in response to the request.
Purported Deepfake Videos Reportedly Impersonated Yanis Varoufakis on YouTube and Social Media
Purported deepfake videos using the face and voice of Greek economist and politician Yanis Varoufakis were reportedly circulated on YouTube and other social platforms in late 2025 and early 2026. The videos depicted a synthetic version of Varoufakis delivering fabricated political statements, including about international events. Platforms reportedly removed some videos, but many reappeared under new accounts.
Purported Deepfake Impersonating Elon Musk Allegedly Defrauded Elderly U.S. Woman of $50,000 via Gift Card–to-Crypto Scam
An 80-year-old U.S. woman was reportedly deceived by scammers using purportedly AI-generated messages and deepfake media impersonating Elon Musk into believing she was in a romantic relationship with him. The perpetrators allegedly induced her to buy over $50,000 in Apple gift cards to be converted into cryptocurrency, leaving her financially endangered and at risk of foreclosure on her home.