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
AI-Generated Obituaries Are Reportedly Intensifying Grief for Bereaved Families
AI-generated obituaries on various websites are reported to have compounded the grief of bereaved families by spreading incorrect and unauthorized information about their loved ones. These obituaries, produced without the families' knowledge, often contain errors and appear on ad-filled sites, exacerbating the emotional distress of the grieving process.
Cody Enterprise Reporter Resigns After Admitting to AI-Generated Fake Quotes
A reporter at the Cody Enterprise used AI to generate fake quotes and stories, including fabricating statements from Wyoming’s governor and other officials. The misuse of AI was uncovered when another journalist noticed robotic phrases and false information in the articles. The reporter resigned, and the newspaper is now implementing policies to prevent future incidents.
Hoodline Accused of Misleadingly Attributing AI-Generated Articles to Human Authors
In 2023, the news site Hoodline is reported to have begun publishing AI-generated articles with fake bylines, headshots, and biographies, allegedly misleading readers into believing they were authored by real journalists. This practice diminishes public trust and exemplifies the potential dangers of AI in journalism. Despite a disclaimer, the use of AI was not transparent.
AI Deepfakes for Voter Outreach Flood Indian Elections
During the 2024 Indian elections, politicians used AI-generated deepfakes to reach voters, who might be unaware they're interacting with digital clones. Providers like Divyendra Singh Jadoun of Polymath Synthetic Media Solutions created deepfakes for personalized messages. This practice, used by various political parties, is not truthful, as voters may be misled by AI-generated content posing as genuine interactions with political figures.
The Arizona Agenda Produced a Deepfake of Kari Lake Advocating for the Publication Without Her Consent
The Arizona Agenda produced a deepfake video of Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake giving a testimonial about the publication with the seeming intention of educating the general public about the dangers of deepfakes in the coming election cycle. However, the Arizona Agenda appears not to have sought Lake's consent, prompting a cease-and-desist letter from her campaign.
Alleged Deepfake Video Depicts Former President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta Announcing 2027 Presidential Bid
A widely shared TikTok video purportedly manipulated by AI depicts former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta announcing a 2027 presidential run. Reported digital forensics and visual inconsistencies confirm the video is an AI-generated deepfake, using archival footage from his presidency with synthesized audio. The clip spread rapidly online but has reportedly been debunked by fact-checkers. Kenyatta has made no such announcement, and such a move would violate Kenya's two-term constitutional limit.
Purported AI-Cloned Voice Depicts Kenyan President William Ruto Speaking French in Viral Video
A purportedly AI-manipulated video widely shared on TikTok and Facebook presents Kenyan President William Ruto speaking in French during a speech in Tokyo on February 7, 2024. A reported reverse image search confirmed the original footage shows Ruto speaking in English to the Kenyan diaspora. The reportedly manipulated version used AI-generated French audio over the original video, making it a case of voice cloning rather than a full audiovisual deepfake.
AI-Generated Fake News Targets Black Celebrities on YouTube
YouTube faced a surge of AI-generated fake news targeting Black celebrities, including fake narratives about Sean “Diddy” Combs and others. These videos, blending AI-generated and manipulated media, amassed millions of views, challenging content moderation efforts and highlighting the spread of disinformation.
Deepfakes of Deceased Indian Politicians for Election Campaigning Are Increasingly Being Deployed
In the lead-up to India's 2024 general elections, AI technology was used to create deepfake videos of deceased politicians, such as M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa, aiming to influence voter behavior and campaign strategies. These AI-generated appearances are contributing to the erosion of trust in democratic processes and media discourse.
Purported Deepfake Audio Reportedly Sparks False Claims of Biden Threatening Texas with F-15s
A purportedly AI-generated audio clip imitating President Biden’s voice reportedly circulated on social media, falsely suggesting that he had threatened to deploy F-15 fighter jets against Texas. The manipulated recording was widely shared and is reported to have heightened political tensions and spread misinformation.
Sports Illustrated Is Alleged to Have Used AI to Invent Fake Authors and Their Articles
Sports Illustrated, managed by The Arena Group, allegedly used AI-generated authors and content, compromising journalistic integrity. Profiles of these fictitious authors, complete with AI-generated headshots, appeared alongside articles, misleading readers. The issue was exposed when inconsistencies in author identities and writing quality were noticed, leading to the removal of this content from the publication's website.
Video Allegedly Altered by AI Reportedly Spreads Claim of Nigerian Doctor's Hypertension Cure
An alleged AI-manipulated video circulating on Facebook falsely claims that a Nigerian doctor has developed a drug that cures high blood pressure permanently within three days. The video, which reportedly mimics Channels Television news anchor Kayode Okikiolu, features manipulated audio and misleading content, including unverified guarantees of reducing stroke and heart attack risks to zero.
AI-Generated Fake Audio of Verbal Abuse Incident Circulates of British Labour Leader Keir Starmer
An AI-generated audio clip, purporting to show UK opposition leader Keir Starmer verbally abusing staff, was debunked as fake. The clip, circulated on social media, was analyzed and found likely manipulated, with added background noise to evade detection.
Deepfake Video of Ron DeSantis Dropping Out of 2024 Presidential Race Circulating
In early September 2023, a deepfake video created by C3PMeme circulated on social media, showing Ron DeSantis falsely claiming he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. DeSantis did not actually suspend his campaign until January 21, 2024.
Reported Doctored Video of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu Claims Naira Will Be Replaced by U.S. Dollar
A reported viral video circulated in Nigeria in the late summer and early fall of 2023 falsely claiming that President Bola Tinubu announced plans to replace the naira with the U.S. dollar. The video, reportedly styled as a news segment from Arise News, was allegedly digitally altered using AI-generated audio and lip-sync manipulation. Arise News publicly denounced the clip as a deepfake, and no legitimate media sources corroborated the claim. The video appeared amid public anxiety over Nigeria's ongoing currency crisis.