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
136 incidents
BNN Breaking's AI-Driven Errors Reportedly Damage Reputations and Spread Misinformation
BNN Breaking, an AI-driven news site, published a false story about Irish DJ Dave Fanning, damaging his reputation. The site used AI to generate error-filled content, leading to numerous complaints and a defamation lawsuit against BNN and Microsoft. The site has since gone dormant.
Reportedly Faulty AI Transcription Threatens Integrity of Genoa Bribery Probe
A reported AI transcription software error in a Genoa bribery investigation is alleged to have incorrectly recorded "illicit financing" instead of "licit financing," which could have significantly impacted the case. The mistake was discovered during a review and is an example of the risks of relying on AI in judicial settings.
Study Highlights Persistent Hallucinations in Legal AI Systems
Stanford University’s Human-Centered AI Institute (HAI) conducted a study in which they designed a "pre-registered dataset of over 200 open-ended legal queries" to test AI products by LexisNexis (creator of Lexis+ AI) and Thomson Reuters (creator of Westlaw AI-Assisted Research and Ask Practical Law AI). The researchers found that these legal models hallucinate in 1 out of 6 (or more) benchmarking queries.
Meta's AI Chatbots Are Reportedly Entering Online Support Communities Uninvited
Meta's AI chatbots have reportedly begun entering online communities on Facebook, providing responses that mimic human interaction. These chatbots, often uninvited, disrupt the human connection critical for support groups by giving misleading or false information and pretending to share lived experiences.
Google AI Reportedly Delivering Confidently Incorrect and Harmful Information
Google's AI search engine has reportedly been providing users with confidently incorrect and often harmful information. Reports highlight numerous inaccuracies, including misleading health advice and dangerous cooking suggestions. For example, it has falsely claimed Barack Obama as the first Muslim U.S. President, reflecting fringe conspiracy theories, or recommending that glue can be an ingredient in pizza.
Facebook's Algorithm Reportedly Amplifies AI-Generated Content, Fueling Misleading Posts
AI-generated spam images are increasingly filling Facebook feeds, with the platform’s algorithm reportedly amplifying these posts. Many of these images are bizarre, fake, and used in scams, misleading users into engaging with non-existent products or clickbait.
Purported ChatGPT Factual Errors Reportedly Led to Filing of Complaint of GDPR Privacy Violation
The activist organization noyb, founded by Max Schrems, reportedly filed a complaint in Europe against OpenAI alleging that ChatGPT violates the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by providing inaccurate personal information such as birthdates about individuals.
Meta AI Hallucinates Harassment Allegations Against New York Politicians
Meta's AI chatbot in Facebook Messenger falsely accused multiple state lawmakers of sexual harassment, fabricating incidents, investigations, and consequences that never occurred. These fabricated stories, discovered by City & State, sparked outrage among the affected lawmakers and raised concerns about the reliability of the chatbot. Meta acknowledged the errors and committed to ongoing improvements.
Catholic AI Chatbot 'Father Justin' Claimed to Be a Real Priest, Prompting Retraction
Catholic advocacy group Catholic Answers released an AI priest called "Father Justin," which misleadingly claimed to be a real clergy member, offered sacraments, and provided controversial advice. After receiving criticism, the group rebranded the chatbot as a lay theologian to correct the misrepresentation. The incident is an instructive case with respect to deploying AI in sensitive contexts and the potential for causing confusion and harm.
Microsoft Copilot Allegedly Provides Unsafe Medical Advice with High Risk of Severe Harm
Microsoft Copilot, when asked medical questions, was reportedly found to provide accurate information only 54% of the time, according to European researchers (citation provided in editor's notes). Analysis by the researchers reported that 42% of Copilot's responses could cause moderate to severe harm, with 22% of responses posing a risk of death or severe injury.
Purported Error by Grok Reportedly Misrepresents Basketball Slang as Criminal Allegation Against NBA Player
X's Grok AI bot reportedly generated a trending story falsely claiming that Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson was under investigation for vandalizing homes with bricks in Sacramento. The alleged fabrication appeared after Grok reportedly misinterpreted posts describing Thompson "shooting bricks" during a basketball game. The story reportedly ranked #5 briefly on X's trending list.
Google Books Appears to Be Indexing Works Written by AI
Google Books is indexing low-quality, AI-generated books, degrading its database and potentially distorting Google Ngram Viewer's analysis of language trends. This integration of inaccurate or misleading information undermines trust, disseminates poor-quality content, and wastes resources as researchers must spend time clearing up the misinformation.
Grok AI on X Created and Promoted False Iran Missile Strike News
On April 4, 2024, X's AI chatbot Grok generated a false headline claiming "Iran Strikes Tel Aviv with Heavy Missiles," which was then promoted on X's trending news section. This misinformation, fueled by user spamming of fake news, falsely indicated a serious international conflict. The incident highlighted significant risks associated with relying on AI for content curation and demonstrated the potential for widespread dissemination of harmful misinformation.
Microsoft-Powered New York City Chatbot Advises Illegal Practices
New York City's chatbot, launched under Mayor Eric Adams's plan to assist businesses, has been reportedly providing dangerously inaccurate legal advice. The Microsoft-powered bot allegedly informed users that landlords can refuse Section 8 vouchers and that businesses can operate cash-free, among other falsehoods. The city acknowledges the chatbot is a pilot program and commits to improvements while the errors are addressed.
Seeming Pattern of Gemini Bias and Sociotechnical Training Failures Harm Google's Reputation
Google's Gemini chatbot faced many reported bias issues upon release, leading to a variety of problematic outputs like racial inaccuracies and political biases, including regarding Chinese and Indian politics. It also reportedly over-corrected racial diversity in historical contexts and advanced controversial perspectives, prompting a temporary halt and an apology from Google.