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
287 incidents
Independent News Sites Flagged as Spam by Facebook's AI Moderation System
Facebook's AI moderation system mistakenly flagged and removed legitimate news articles from independent local publishers as spam. This affected publishers worldwide, disrupting content distribution and impacting traffic. Despite attempts to appeal, many publishers received no response.
Facebook's Content Moderation System Flagged and Removed Emergency Updates as Spam During Wildfires
Facebook's AI moderation system wrongly flagged and removed dozens of posts containing vital emergency information during California's wildfire season, including real-time updates on evacuations and fire tracking. Posts from official sources like Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service were marked as spam, potentially endangering lives by restricting access to crucial updates. Despite user complaints, the issue persisted, with Facebook acknowledging the problem only after media inquiry.
Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Defects in Volkswagen's AI-Driven AEB Systems
A class action lawsuit involving Volkswagen Group of America addresses alleged defects in the Automated Emergency Braking (AEB) systems of certain vehicles. The lawsuit claims these AI-driven systems failed to function properly, posing safety risks. Volkswagen denies the claims but has agreed to a settlement. Affected users can look up their vehicle's eligibility and file claims for reimbursement. The case brings into question the level of reliability of AI in critical automotive applications.
Google Healthcare AI Model Med‑Gemini Allegedly Produces Non‑Existent 'Basilar Ganglia' Term in Published Output
Google’s Med‑Gemini healthcare AI reportedly produced the non‑existent term "basilar ganglia" in public launch materials, conflating two distinct brain structures. The error reportedly appeared in both a blog post and an arXiv preprint. Google is reported to have initially edited the blog without acknowledgment, later calling it a typo.
Cybercheck Tool Allegedly Provides Questionable Evidence in Murder Trials
Global Intelligence's Cybercheck AI tool, used by law enforcement to track suspects based on open source data, has allegedly been providing inaccurate or unverifiable evidence in several murder trials. Reportedly the tool lacks transparency and often produces unreliable reports, which has prompted prosecutors to withdraw Cybercheck evidence from multiple cases after its findings were challenged, reportedly wasting law enforcement time and resources while undermining prosecutors' cases.
NHTSA Opens New Probe into Tesla’s Autopilot Following More than a Dozen Fatal Accidents
The NHTSA has linked Tesla's Autopilot to over a dozen fatalities and hundreds of crashes, prompting a new investigation into the adequacy of Tesla's December recall of 2 million vehicles. The probe reports that Tesla’s driver-assist system led to avoidable crashes involving visible hazards, suggesting a critical safety gap between driver expectations and the system’s capabilities. The investigation will assess if Tesla’s recall remedies were sufficient to address these safety risks.
The WHO's S.A.R.A.H. Bot Reported to Provide Inconsistent and Inadequate Health Information
The WHO's AI-powered health advisor, S.A.R.A.H. (Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health), is alleged to provide inconsistent and inadequate health information. The bot reportedly gives contradictory responses to the same queries, fails to offer specific contact details for healthcare providers, and inadequately handles severe mental health crises, often giving irrelevant or unhelpful advice.
Facebook AI Reportedly Mislabels Auschwitz Photos as 'Bullying' and 'Nudity'
Facebook's AI system allegedly mislabeled around 20 posts from the Auschwitz Memorial Museum as violating community standards for "bullying" and "nudity," reportedly deleting at least one image of orphans. The purported misclassification of historical content allegedly prompted outrage from the museum, which reportedly demanded an explanation. Meta later purportedly apologized, attributing the issue to mistaken notices sent by its AI system and reportedly acknowledged that the posts did not, in fact, violate company policies.
Brake Failure in Reportedly AI-Driven Tram Leads to Multiple Injuries in Saint Petersburg, Russia
During a test run in Saint Petersburg in Russia a reportedly AI-powered "Smart Tram" failed, leading to a crash that injured several pedestrians and trapped a woman under its wheels. The tram's AI system reportedly shut off unexpectedly, and both primary and emergency brakes failed despite pre-test checks.
Error-Prone AI Accessibility Tools Reportedly Lead to Navigation Issues for Blind Internet Users
AI-powered accessibility overlays on websites frequently mislabel or misinterpret content, in turn complicating navigation for blind users and others with disabilities. Users report that the AI tools interfere with screen readers and mislead them with inaccurate descriptions. The reported unreliability in these tools have prompted legal action, as the companies behind them seek compliance with accessibility laws.
California Homeowner Reportedly Loses Insurance After Purported Aerial Imagery-Based Roof Assessment
A California homeowner's insurance policy was reportedly not renewed after CSAA relied on aerial imagery, purportedly analyzed by an AI system, to assess the roof as having reached the end of its life. The homeowner, Cindy Picos, reportedly commissioned an independent inspection suggesting the roof had a decade of remaining life, but CSAA declined to reverse the decision. The insurer reportedly did not provide the imagery for review.
ChatGPT Glitch Disrupts User Interactions with Nonsensical Outputs
ChatGPT experienced a bug causing it to produce unexpected and nonsensical responses, leading to widespread reports of user confusion and concern. OpenAI identified and fixed the language processing bug, restoring normal service.
Meta's AI Ad Platform Reportedly Causes Overspending and Poor Performance
Meta's automated ad platform "Advantage Plus" caused advertisers to exceed their daily ad budgets. The cost per impressions (CPMs) surged far above the usual. This incident, which persisted into April, affected small businesses with overspending and lack of transparency.
A Self-Driving Waymo Robotaxi Reportedly Collided with a Bicyclist
A Waymo robotaxi in San Francisco reportedly failed to detect a cyclist obscured by a truck, resulting in a collision with minor injuries, at 17th and Mississippi Streets in Potrero Hill. The incident reportedly demonstrated a vulnerability in autonomous vehicles' ability to safely navigate complex urban environments.
Facial Recognition System in Buenos Aires Triggers Police Checks Based on False Matches
Buenos Aires's facial recognition system mistakenly flagged innocent people as criminals, leading to wrongful stops and detentions. Judicial investigations indicate the technology may have been misused for unauthorized surveillance and data collection. Despite privacy risks, the system has been used widely without full disclosure of standards or safeguards,