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
566 incidents
Whirlpool Reportedly Used AI-Altered Footage of North Carolina State Senator DeAndrea Salvador in Brazilian Advertisement
An advertising campaign created by DM9, a São Paulo–based subsidiary of Omnicom Group, for Whirlpool's Brazilian brand Consul reportedly used AI to alter footage from a 2018 TED Talk by North Carolina State Senator DeAndrea Salvador. The video reportedly modified her voice, statements, and slides to reference Brazilian energy data without her consent, appeared in an award-winning commercial, and later prompted a lawsuit alleging unauthorized use of her likeness and reputational harm.
Phone of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Allegedly Breached in Reported AI Voice Impersonation Incident
President Trump announced that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles had been impersonated via a phone breach involving AI-generated voice messages and spoofed texts. The attacker reportedly contacted high-profile individuals in her network while posing as Wiles. The incident is linked to a campaign identified by the FBI in April 2025, involving malicious actors using social engineering and AI to impersonate senior U.S. officials and gain access to sensitive information. See Incident 1077.
Reported AI-Generated Clickbait Targets Adolescents in Rockingham County, North Carolina
An alleged AI-enabled scam targeting teens in Rockingham County, North Carolina, reportedly used fake headlines and a local student's likeness to lure users to malicious websites. According to the sheriff's office and Proxyware, the campaign involved nearly 100 sites linked to a centralized operation in South Africa. Once users were identified as students or locals, the sites reportedly deployed harmful ads or malware. Authorities warn of sensational content used to manipulate users.
Alleged Russian-Linked Deepfake Campaign Misattributes Infrastructure Projects to Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traoré
A reported wave of allegedly AI-generated and misleading media content promoting Burkina Faso's junta leader Ibrahim Traoré has been circulating. Investigators described videos attributing development projects to Traoré, reportedly part of a campaign by Russian-linked media to support junta regimes across the Sahel. Experts warned of the campaign's destabilizing effects and its potential to normalize military rule and foreign ideological influence.
Purported AI-Generated Video Portrays Pope Leo XIV Addressing Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso
A purported 36-minute AI-generated deepfake video circulated online portraying Pope Leo XIV delivering a speech to Burkina Faso's President Ibrahim Traoré. The Vatican Press Office and Catholic broadcaster Patrick Madrid publicly confirmed the video was fabricated.
Purported Unauthorized Deepfakes of Norman Swan and Others Circulated in Online Supplement Campaigns
According to an ABC News (Australia) 7.30 report, a second wave of deepfake scam ads impersonating Norman Swan and other public figures circulated widely on Meta platforms in 2025, promoting unproven health supplements. The campaign featured new voice-cloned videos and more impersonation tactics, and it reportedly contributed to financial and health harms. Investigators reportedly linked the ads to businesses in Australia and New Zealand using deceptive redirects and alias branding.
ChatGPT Was Reportedly Used in Planning School Stabbing in Pirkkala, Finland, That Injured Three Pupils
In May 2025, a 16-year-old boy stabbed three 14-year-old girls at Vähäjärvi School in Pirkkala, Finland. Same-day reporting said a manifesto attributed to the suspect claimed he used ChatGPT while planning the attack. Later court reporting said police found hundreds of pre-attack searches or queries described as involving AI, including topics related to stabbing, anatomy, school attacks, police procedures, evidence concealment, and manifestos.
New Jersey Man Cornelius Shannon Allegedly Published Hundreds of AI-Generated Deepfake Pornography Albums in TAKE IT DOWN Act Case
In one of the first prosecutions under the TAKE IT DOWN Act, DOJ alleged that New Jersey defendant Cornelius Shannon published at least 360 albums of AI-generated deepfake pornography depicting about 90 women, including public figures, beginning during a charged period anchored to May 2025. Prosecutors said the content appeared on an adult image- and video-sharing platform and was viewed millions of times.
Purported AI-Manipulated Videos Depict Mauricio Macri Endorsing Manuel Adorni and Silvia Lospennato Withdrawing Before Buenos Aires Vote
Purported AI-generated deepfake videos were reportedly circulated on X in the final hours before the Buenos Aires municipal election in May 2025. The alleged synthetic content depicted Mauricio Macri endorsing Manuel Adorni and Silvia Lospennato withdrawing. Officials reportedly described the material as an attempt to mislead voters. A formal complaint was filed with the electoral tribunal, and an investigation was requested.
AI Chatbot Allegedly Used to Research Explosive Materials in Palm Springs Fertility Clinic Bombing
An unnamed AI chatbot was reportedly used by Guy Edward Bartkus and Daniel Park, the perpetrators of the 2025 Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing, to research explosive materials and optimize fuel mixtures. Records show the chatbot responded to queries related to ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) composition. The bombing resulted in one death, four injuries, and significant structural damage.
Reported Use of Deepfake Video Impersonating Owen Wilson in Romance Scam with Fake Job Payments
A Reddit user reported in May 2025 that her mother is being groomed by scammers using an AI-generated deepfake video impersonating actor Owen Wilson. The scam reportedly began on a game app (Yahtzee with Friends) and shifted to WhatsApp voice calls, with the victim promised a fake Warner Bros job paying small sums via Cash App. The scammer allegedly claims he will buy a house for the victim's family as part of the deception. The video is cited as the main “proof” of authenticity.
FBI Reports Ongoing Vishing and Smishing Campaign Allegedly Targeting Government Officials Using Purportedly AI-Generated Voices
According to a May 15, 2025 public alert from the FBI and IC3, malicious actors have been using purported AI-generated voice messages and smishing tactics since April 2025 to impersonate senior U.S. officials. The campaign reportedly targets government personnel and their contacts to gain access to personal or official accounts. The FBI warns the scheme may involve credential theft and social engineering, with AI voice cloning used to increase believability.
Purported AI-Manipulated Videos of Cypriot Officials Circulated in Alleged Investment Fraud
Citizens in Cyprus reported being targeted by an alleged investment scam involving purported AI-manipulated videos that appeared to depict government officials endorsing financial platforms. The Cyprus Consumers Association stated that several individuals suffered significant financial losses after being misled by the videos, which circulated via social media and messaging apps. Authorities are investigating, and the association has warned of potential cross-border spread of the scheme.
Noodlophile Stealer Reportedly Distributed Through Allegedly Fraudulent AI Content Platforms
A campaign reportedly used fake AI video generation sites to distribute malware under the guise of AI-generated content. Promoted via social media, these sites allegedly tricked users into downloading files containing Noodlophile Stealer, a previously unreported infostealer, and in some cases XWorm. The malware harvested credentials and could enable remote access.
Purported Deepfake Video Reportedly Misrepresented CBS Anchor Doug Dunbar and Frisco, Texas, Stabbing Suspect Amid Online Misinformation Campaign
After a fatal stabbing at a Frisco, Texas, high school track meet, online accounts reportedly circulated a purported deepfake video on Instagram that allegedly both altered CBS anchor Doug Dunbar's speech and falsely depicted suspect Karmelo Anthony holding a knife. The manipulated content was reportedly reposted across multiple accounts, spreading misinformation about the case and intensifying inflammatory online discourse after the killing.