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
56 incidents
Purportedly AI-Generated Image Reportedly Misled Daejeon Authorities Searching for Escaped Wolf Neukgu
South Korean police alleged that a 40-year-old man used ChatGPT's image-generation capabilities to add escaped wolf Neukgu to a Daejeon street photo, then posted the purportedly fabricated image in a company group chat. Authorities reportedly used the image in alerts and briefings, redirecting search resources and disrupting public-safety operations before police identified him through CCTV and AI-use records.
NZ News Hub Reportedly Used AI-Rewritten News Posts and Synthetic Images to Mislead New Zealand Facebook Users
NZ News Hub, a Facebook page that reportedly imitated the style of a New Zealand news outlet, allegedly used AI to rewrite real news stories and pair them with unlabeled synthetic images. According to 1News, the page published manipulated depictions of real people, including a deceased minor and bereaved parents, and dramatized emergency-related scenes in ways that could distort public understanding of local events and undermine trust in legitimate news and emergency information.
Purportedly AI-Generated Images and Videos Reportedly Spread Misinformation About Nicolás Maduro's Capture on X
Following the January 2026 U.S. raid and arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, purportedly AI-generated images and videos circulated widely on platforms including X, reportedly depicting Maduro in fabricated scenarios. NewsGuard identified at least seven manipulated or synthetic visuals reaching over 14 million views, including AI-generated photos detected via Google Gemini's SynthID watermark.
Purported Deepfake Impersonation of Elon Musk Used to Promote Fraudulent '17-Hour' Diabetes Treatment Claims
A purported deepfake video reportedly circulated online falsely depicting Elon Musk endorsing a nonexistent "17-hour" diabetes cure. The reported video promoted unverified health claims and appears to have been part of a scam ecosystem exploiting Musk's public credibility. Rapper Boosie Badazz reportedly encountered and amplified the video before its purported falsity was identified.
Purportedly AI-Generated 'Eric Langford' Missing Boy Scout Hoax Circulating Across Multiple Social Media Platforms
A purportedly AI-generated fictional story falsely claimed that a Boy Scout named Eric Langford disappeared in New York in 1989 and reappeared in 2001 after being kidnapped. The reported hoax originated on the UNKNOWN Files YouTube channel and was repackaged into viral TikTok videos and AI-written blog posts promoted on Facebook, misleading millions of viewers and searchers about a fabricated missing-person case.
Reported Viral AI-Generated Photo Purportedly Shows Donald Trump Using a Walker
A fabricated image purporting to show U.S. President Donald Trump using a walker reportedly circulated widely on social media in mid-December 2025. Fact-checkers determined the image was AI-generated, citing visual anomalies and detection of Google's SynthID watermark. The image reportedly spread across multiple platforms and was shared by a political strategist, prompting public confusion and debunking by news outlets and AI detection tools.
Purported AI-Generated Image Depicting JD Vance and Usha Vance in Public Altercation Circulated on Social Media
A fabricated image purportedly depicting U.S. Vice President JD Vance arguing with his wife, Usha Vance, in a restaurant circulated on Facebook and X in December 2025. The image was later confirmed by its creator to have been generated using ChatGPT and falsely presented as an authentic photograph. The image was shared alongside speculative claims about the Vances' marriage.
Purportedly AI-Generated Fake Videos of Louvre Heist Reportedly Circulated Widely Online
After the October 19, 2025 jewel heist at the Louvre, purported deepfakes were reported to have circulated widely online, allegedly depicting the robbery despite being fabricated.. The clips were reportedly posted on Facebook, Douyin and RedNote, and they were noted to have featured morphing artifacts, disappearing objects, and partial Sora watermarks. AI Forensics and independent checks reportedly found the scenes inconsistent with the real Apollo Gallery, confirming the footage was not real.
Bodycam Footage Reportedly Contradicted Purportedly ChatGPT-Generated Use-of-Force Narrative by Immigration Agent
Body-worn camera footage released in litigation over Operation Midway Blitz reportedly showed that an immigration agent used ChatGPT to generate a long-form use-of-force narrative based on minimal inputs. A federal judge found that multiple AI-assisted reports conflicted with contemporaneous video evidence, undermining their accuracy and credibility and raising concerns about the use of generative AI in official law enforcement reporting.
YouTube Channel Reportedly Posts Purported Deepfake Video of Rajat Sharma Announcing India-Bangladesh Conflict
A purported deepfake video depicting Indian journalist Rajat Sharma reporting on a potential India-Bangladesh war was uploaded to the YouTube channel The Real Report. Fact-checkers reportedly found no such broadcast existed and, according to their metrics, verified that the clip was likely AI-generated.
Alleged Marine Park Orca Attack on 'Jessica Radcliffe' Reportedly an AI-Generated Hoax
Fact-checkers reported that a viral video claiming to show a marine trainer named Jessica Radcliffe killed by an orca was purportedly fabricated. Investigations found no record of Radcliffe's existence or of such an attack. The video reportedly used AI-generated voiceovers and unrelated footage, borrowing details from real orca incidents to appear credible. The hoax reportedly spread widely online over social media.
Purportedly AI-Generated Video of Tigers at Barasat Madrasa in West Bengal Reportedly Causes Panic and Student Absenteeism
A purportedly AI-generated video circulated on Facebook allegedly showing tigers roaming the campus of Ula Kalsara Qadria High Madrasa in Barasat, West Bengal. The video was reportedly created by a geography teacher using AI tools and allegedly led to panic among parents and students, with a sharp drop in attendance. The madrasa reportedly issued a show-cause notice to the teacher, who claimed the video was intended as an awareness exercise.
Philippine Officials Reportedly Share Veo 3-Generated Video to Support Vice President Sara Duterte During Impeachment
Philippine Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa and Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte reportedly shared an AI-generated video made with Google's Veo 3, depicting fake students opposing Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment. The clip was reportedly styled as a street interview and went viral with millions of views. Reportedly, dela Rosa faced backlash for spreading disinformation but defended the video's message, allegedly ignoring its fabrication.
Reported Use and Circulation of AI-Generated Misinformation and Fake Victim Visuals After Air India 171 Crash
Following the June 12, 2025 crash of Air India Flight 171, bad-faith actors reportedly used generative AI to produce fake videos and images misrepresenting victims and dramatizing the event. These AI-generated fakes spread widely on social media during the investigation delay, reportedly confusing even aviation professionals and misleading the public. Experts warned that the misuse exploited the grief of victims' families and amplified misinformation about the tragedy.
Purportedly AI-Generated Video Reportedly Depicted Bulgarian Politician Kostadin Kostadinov Falling During Protest
A purportedly AI-generated video circulated on social media reportedly depicting Bulgarian politician Kostadin Kostadinov falling while jumping a fence during a June 8 protest against adoption of the euro in Bulgaria. Reporting said the clip was generated from a still image taken at the protest and bore a partially obscured Haliuo AI watermark. The video was reposted by multiple accounts and reportedly drew more than one million views.