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
538 incidents
South Korean Woman Allegedly Used ChatGPT to Assess Lethality of Drug-and-Alcohol Mixtures Before Two Fatal Motel Poisonings
In Seoul, a woman allegedly used ChatGPT to ask whether mixing sleeping pills or benzodiazepines with alcohol could be fatal before poisoning drinks given to three men. Two men later died in separate motel incidents, and a third survived after losing consciousness. Police reportedly cited her chatbot queries and search history as evidence of intent.
Purportedly AI-Altered Images Reportedly Distort Evidence After Minneapolis Shooting of ICU Nurse Alex Pretti
Following the fatal shooting of Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents, social media accounts reportedly circulated images purported to have been altered by AI, reportedly distorting evidence of the incident by portraying Pretti as threatening law enforcement and altering the presence of weapons. The images reportedly misidentified individuals and helped reinforce partisan narratives by purportedly obscuring verified video and eyewitness accounts.
White House Reportedly Shares Purportedly AI-Altered Arrest Photo Depicting Minnesota Protester Nekima Levy Armstrong as Crying
The White House reportedly posted a purportedly AI-altered image on X showing Minnesota protester and attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong appearing to cry during her arrest. An earlier image reportedly shared by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem showed her calm. Reported analysis by third parties using AI detection tools found signs of purported facial manipulation, which could be replicated using generative AI systems.
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.
Scammers Reportedly Used AI-Generated Image of Missing Puppy Hazel to Solicit Fraudulent Vet Payment from St. Petersburg, Florida Couple
Scammers reportedly used an AI-generated or AI-altered image of a missing German Shepherd puppy on an operating table to convince a St. Petersburg, Florida couple that the dog had been hit by a car and needed emergency surgery. The caller allegedly impersonated police and veterinary staff while requesting $1,900 through Zelle. The payment was flagged as fraud, and the dog later returned home unharmed.
Purportedly AI-Generated Explicit Images of Royal School Armagh Girls Reportedly Circulated Among Pupils
Police in Northern Ireland reportedly investigated allegations that explicit purportedly AI-generated images of girls attending Royal School Armagh were created and shared among pupils. The images allegedly targeted multiple students and circulated within the school community.
Lower Saxony CDU Employee Allegedly Shared Sexualized Purported Deepfake of Colleague in Internal WhatsApp Group
A senior employee of the CDU parliamentary faction in Lower Saxony allegedly posted a purportedly AI-generated sexualized deepfake of a female colleague in an internal WhatsApp group. Prosecutors later said the video appeared to be an AI montage created by inserting a real image of the woman into a bikini-dance clip. The employee was reportedly later dismissed.
Purported Deepfake Reportedly Impersonated Consumer Adviser Clark Howard to Promote Auto-Insurance Quote Site
A purported AI-generated video reportedly circulated on social media depicting consumer adviser Clark Howard endorsing an auto-insurance quote tool. A viewer reportedly said she believed it was real and warned others after a similar site led to an alleged flood of unsolicited calls without better rates.
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.
Purported AI-Generated Doctor Deepfakes Reportedly Used Guy's and St Thomas' Branding to Market Weight Loss Patches
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust warned that purported AI-generated videos circulated on Facebook and TikTok depicted its clinicians endorsing weight loss patches. The videos allegedly impersonated doctors and used misleading medical claims to market a product.
Former New Orleans Isidore Newman School Teacher Allegedly Used AI to Create Fake Nude Images from Social Media Photos of Girls, Including Students
Louisiana authorities alleged that former Isidore Newman School teacher Benoit Cransac used an online AI platform to alter social media photos of girls and generate fake nude images, including collages. Local reports said he was rearrested on 60 unlawful-deepfake charges, and that investigators believed some depicted girls from the New Orleans area, with later coverage referring to teenage girls and students.
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.
Purportedly AI-Cloned Voice Allegedly Used to Defraud Play School Owner of ₹97,500 (~$1,080 USD) in Indore, India
A woman who runs a play school in Indore, India, was reportedly defrauded of ₹97,500 (approximately $1,080 USD) after a fraudster allegedly used AI-based voice cloning to impersonate her cousin, an Uttar Pradesh police employee, and claim a friend needed urgent cardiac surgery. The victim was reportedly persuaded to transfer funds via QR codes before discovering no money had actually been credited.
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.
Reported AI Impersonations of Pastors Used in Online Donation and Influence Scams
Religious communities in the U.S. and abroad reported the circulation of purportedly AI-generated videos and cloned audio impersonating pastors and church leaders, including Father Mike Schmitz, to solicit donations and spread incendiary sermons. The impersonations reportedly leveraged synthetic voice and likeness tools and were distributed via platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and messaging apps. Some content remained unlabeled as AI-generated and was treated as authentic by viewers.