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
253 incidents
Four Lawyers Reportedly Sanctioned After Purportedly AI-Related Hallucinated Citations Appeared in Withers v. City of Aberdeen
In Withers v. City of Aberdeen, a federal judge in Mississippi reportedly sanctioned four lawyers after filings from both sides contained purportedly hallucinated legal citations linked to unverified AI use. The court said Kathleen Wilson used First Drafts to draft a filing and Kathryn Williams used an AI legal-research tool; all four attorneys were removed from the case and fined.
Purportedly AI-Generated Video Reportedly Depicted Kosovo LDK Figure Hykmete Bajrami and Former Serbian List Leader Goran Rakiq Walking Hand in Hand
A purported AI-generated video is reported to have circulated on Facebook showing LDK parliamentary group chair Hykmete Bajrami and former Serbian List leader Goran Rakiq walking hand in hand. In addition to the video reportedly being generated by AI, its audio was purportedly stitched together from separate parts of Bajrami's Debat Plus interview.
A.B. Paterson College Teacher in Queensland Allegedly Used AI to Create Explicit Images of Students and Staff
Queensland police in Australia allege that former A.B. Paterson College teacher Robert John Thomas used a work-issued laptop and AI software to create explicit images depicting staff members and students. The school discovered and quarantined the material in October 2025, dismissed Thomas, and reported the matter to police. Authorities said there was no evidence he shared the images; he was charged with child-exploitation and computer-misuse offences in July 2026.
Social Media Recommendation Algorithms Allegedly Repeatedly Exposed 13-Year-Old Blake Gallier to Suicide-Related Videos Before Her Death
Before her death on October 30, 2025, 13-year-old Blake Gallier reportedly viewed and reposted social-media videos normalizing suicide. After examining her phone, her family alleged that recommendation algorithms had repeatedly surfaced similar material. The platform or platforms involved have not been publicly identified, and an inquest into her death remains pending.
KPMG Report Allegedly Included Hallucinated Citations and Inaccurate Agentic AI Case Studies
In October 2025, KPMG published "Total Experience: Redefining Excellence in the Age of Agentic AI." GPTZero later reported that only five of 45 citations accurately matched their sources, while others contained flawed details. The pattern reportedly suggested an unverified LLM research tool, but the system and extent of AI involvement remain unconfirmed.
Purported Deepfakes of Public Figures and Celebrities Reportedly Used to Market Honey-Based Supplements as Alzheimer's Treatments
Beginning around October 2025, a campaign reportedly used AI-generated videos and cloned voices of well-known public figures and celebrities such as Bill Gates, Sanjay Gupta, Anderson Cooper, Bruce Willis, and others to market honey-based supplements as treatments for Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Consumers reportedly said modest purchases sometimes led to continuing charges or unwanted shipments, while cancellation and refund requests were difficult to resolve.
Westlaw CoCounsel Reportedly Generated False Legal Quotations in United States v. Farris
In United States v. Farris, court-appointed attorney Steven N. Howe admitted using Westlaw CoCounsel to draft appellate briefs that reportedly included AI-generated false quotations and misleading descriptions of precedent. The filing disrupted Farris's appeal, leading the court to appoint new counsel and restart briefing, while Howe lost his compensation and faced possible disciplinary action.
California Immigration Attorneys Reportedly Sanctioned Over Briefs Containing Probable Hallucinations in LNU v. Blanche
California immigration attorneys Mike Singh Sethi and William Rounds were reportedly sanctioned in LNU v. Blanche after Ninth Circuit filings included purportedly fabricated and materially inaccurate legal authorities. The court said unauthorized generative AI use by unlicensed brief writers was probable and found that the attorneys failed to verify the filings and repeatedly lacked candor about the errors' source.
Zoetis Vetscan Imagyst Allegedly Misclassified Dog's Cancerous Tumor, Leading to Second Surgery and Death
In October 2025, Columbia Veterinary Hospital in The Dalles, Oregon reportedly used Zoetis's Vetscan Imagyst AI to analyze a rapidly growing neck mass in an 11-year-old Belgian Tervuren. The system allegedly classified the mass as inflammatory, while a later biopsy found aggressive cancer. The hospital alleges the first surgery failed to remove all cancer, requiring a second operation; the dog died from complications. Zoetis allegedly later apologized and said similar incidents had occurred.
ChatGPT Reportedly Gave Incorrect Mount Misen Ropeway Hours, Leaving Couple Stranded After Hike in Japan
Dana Yao and her husband, Robert, reportedly used ChatGPT to plan a sunset hike on Mount Misen in Japan. ChatGPT allegedly told them the last ropeway departed at 5:30 PM, but the service had already closed when they reached the summit, leaving them stranded.
Purportedly AI-Generated Travel Information Reportedly Misled Tourists into Seeking Nonexistent 'Sacred Canyon of Humantay' in Peru
Two tourists in Peru reportedly relied on AI-generated travel information describing a nonexistent destination called the "Sacred Canyon of Humantay." One tourist had paid nearly $160 to reach a rural road near Mollepata without a guide or actual destination. Trek operator Miguel Ángel Góngora Meza intervened after seeing the purportedly AI-generated itinerary and warned that such misinformation could expose travelers to serious risks in high-altitude Andean terrain.
Sixt's AI Rental-Car Inspection Reportedly Led to a £1,659 Bill for Pre-Existing Damage in Manchester, England
A renter at Manchester Airport, England, reportedly received a £1,659 bill after Sixt's Car Gate AI scanner missed existing scratches at pickup but flagged them at return. Sixt pursued payment for eight weeks and threatened collections and legal action despite scans reportedly showing the damage predated the rental. The company canceled the damage entry and bill after an ombudsman intervened.
Purportedly AI-Generated False Citations in Arizona Probate Appeal Reportedly Led to Sanctions Against Self-Represented Appellant
Self-represented appellant Jeffrey Kotchka reportedly used purported AI tools to prepare an opening brief in a probate dispute involving his late mother's estate. The Arizona Court of Appeals found six of its eight citations deficient, including two nonexistent cases, and said Kotchka had made no effort to verify them. The court affirmed the appointment of his sister, Kim Dineen, as personal representative, ordering Kotchka to pay her attorney fees attributable to addressing the false citations.
Purported Deepfake Video Reportedly Impersonated Former Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Amarsaikhan Sainbuyan in Investment Scam
A Facebook post reportedly used a deepfake-altered clip of then-Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Amarsaikhan Sainbuyan to promote investment in the "Power of Siberia-2" pipeline and direct viewers to a registration website. The video allegedly modified a 2024 MONGOL TV interview with altered lip movement and added Russian audio, while the linked site sought personal information.
ChatGPT Allegedly Helped a Teenager in Sarthe, France, Plan Terrorist Attacks on Schools and Government Buildings
A 17-year-old student in Sarthe, France, allegedly used the AI chatbot ChatGPT to assist plans to burn schools and attack government buildings and embassies. Reported exchanges included explanations of explosion damage and security weaknesses, plus lyrics praising the Islamic State terrorist group. He alleged ChatGPT reinforced his radicalization; his lawyer confirmed AI influenced his behavior. Police arrested him before the plans were carried out.