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
271 incidents
Generative AI Allegedly Used to Facilitate $255,000 Real Estate Fraud Scheme
A real estate scam is reported to have used AI-generated phishing emails to impersonate a title company lawyer, tricking homebuyer Raegan Bartlo into wiring $255,000 to a fraudulent account. The emails were alleged to be convincing, with no grammatical errors or tone issues. Bartlo recovered part of the funds but lost $112,000.
Trump Reportedly Shares Purportedly AI-Generated Images Falsely Suggesting Taylor Swift Endorsement
Donald Trump reportedly shared images that were purportedly generated by AI on social media that are alleged to have depicted Taylor Swift endorsing him for the upcoming election. The images reportedly included Swift dressed as Uncle Sam and fans wearing "Swifties for Trump" shirts.
San Francisco City Attorney Sues Operators of AI Deepfake Pornography Websites for Violations of State and Federal Law
In August 2024, the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against 16 websites accused of using generative AI to create and distribute nonconsensual pornographic deepfakes, including images of minors. The sites, which had over 200 million visits in six months, invited users to upload real images to generate explicit fakes. By March 2025, 11 of the targeted websites had shut down following legal pressure.
Grok AI Reportedly Generates Offensive and Violent Images Without Proper Safeguards
Elon Musk’s Grok AI, launched on X, generated offensive and violent images without adequate safety controls. The AI produced deepfakes of public figures like Taylor Swift, Kamala Harris, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as copyrighted characters such as Mickey Mouse in inappropriate scenarios. Despite claiming adherence to certain content guidelines, Grok's outputs included politically charged and explicit imagery
Deepfake Elon Musk Videos Have Reportedly Contributed to Billions in Fraud
Scammers used AI to create deepfake videos of Elon Musk promoting fraudulent investment opportunities. Over time, these scams have reportedly led to billions in investor losses. The deepfakes also use voice cloning technology. They have been distributed on social media and YouTube. In particular, they target the elderly, such as 82-year-old Steve Beauchamp, to invest significant sums. Despite efforts by platforms to remove these videos, the scams continue to proliferate.
Reported AI-Manipulated Video Depicts Donald Trump Endorsing Peter Obi and Criticizing Bola Tinubu
A widely circulated video reportedly falsely depicts Donald Trump endorsing Nigerian politician Peter Obi and criticizing President Bola Tinubu. FactCheckAfrica confirmed the video was false, originally sourced from a 2017 U.S. presidential interview about Trump's first 100 days in office. AI-generated audio and altered visuals were reportedly used to fabricate a politically charged statement unrelated to the original content.
AI-Generated Fake 'True Crime' Video About Non-Existent Littleton Murder Goes Viral
An AI-generated "true crime" video on YouTube falsely depicted a Littleton man's "secret gay love affair" and murder by his stepson. The 25-minute video, which garnered nearly 2 million views, fabricated details and used deepfake technology to deceive viewers into believing the story was real. Despite being flagged as false by local authorities and lacking credible sources, the video sparked widespread misinformation and outrage online.
Taranaki, New Zealand Resident Allegedly Defrauded of $224K in Bitcoin Scam Using Deepfake of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon
A Taranaki, New Zealand resident allegedly lost $224,000 in a Bitcoin scam involving a deepfake video reportedly depicting Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The AI-generated video, shared on Facebook, purportedly promoted cryptocurrency investments targeting superannuitants. Scammers posing as financial advisers reportedly gained remote access to the victim’s computer and created accounts to facilitate the transfer of funds.
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.
Female Politicians in the United Kingdom Reportedly Victimized by Purported Deepfake Pornography
Female politicians in the United Kingdom, including Angela Rayner, Gillian Keegan, Penny Mordaunt, Priti Patel, Stella Creasy, and Dehenna Davison, have reportedly been targeted by non-consensual, purportedly AI-generated deepfake pornography. The images, which some accounts suggest may have circulated online for an extended period, were reported to have caused distress and, in at least some instances, to have prompted reports to or involvement by law enforcement.
Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong Allegedly Misrepresented in Two Deepfake Videos on Foreign Relations
Two deepfake videos falsely depicted Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong commenting on US-China relations and the South China Sea. The videos misleadingly attributed views to him and the Singapore government. Posted on TikTok, the videos amassed over 190,000 views before being removed.
Purportedly AI-Generated Papers Are Alleged to Have Manipulated Scopus Rankings in Top Philosophy Journals
Three reportedly fake journals published by Addleton Academic Publishers allegedly manipulated Scopus rankings by extensively cross-citing each other and using AI-generated papers filled with buzzwords. These journals, placed in the top 10 of Scopus's 2023 CiteScore philosophy list, reportedly featured fake authors, affiliations, and grant numbers, in turn allegedly pushing legitimate journals to lower tiers, affecting academic evaluations and awards.
Auto Insurers Allegedly Are Surreptitiously Collecting and Scoring Driver Data
The insurance industry allegedly uses AI and telematics to score drivers based on behaviors tracked by automakers and apps like Life360. Data, often collected without clear consent, may affect insurance rates and raises privacy concerns. Consumers are largely unaware of this surveillance, leading to potential misuse and discrimination based on driving habits or socioeconomic factors.
Reported Use of Purportedly AI-Generated Student Accounts in Online College Courses
An adjunct professor at an unspecified community college reportedly suspected that some students in his online art history and art appreciation courses are AI-powered spambots. These "students" allegedly submitted peculiar assignments, such as analyses of non-existent artworks and descriptions of sculptures using painting terminology. Additionally, their engagement with the college portal is reportedly minimal. The professor reportedly believed the spambot students aimed to fraudulently obtain financial aid by remaining enrolled in courses.
Scammers Allegedly Manipulate 2023 Speech of Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Spread Deepfake Investment Fraud
A new deepfake video falsely showed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong endorsing an investment product with guaranteed returns. Scammers synchronized fake audio with real footage from his 2023 National Day speech, making it appear as though he had made the endorsement. Lee called this “extremely worrying” and warned that deepfake scams are becoming more sophisticated. He urged the public to report such scams through the government’s ScamShield Bot.