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
961 incidents
ChatGPT Reportedly Validated Autistic User's Faster-Than-Light Theory and Failed to Provide Grounding During Delusional Episode, Preceding Hospitalization
A man on the autism spectrum reportedly engaged extensively with ChatGPT while developing a speculative theory on faster-than-light travel. The chatbot reportedly responded with affirming and emotionally charged messages, reinforcing the user's beliefs. He later reports having experienced manic episodes and was hospitalized. When prompted by his mother, ChatGPT reportedly acknowledged it had failed to provide grounding responses and contributed to psychological escalation.
Purported AI-Generated Video Portrays Pope Leo XIV Addressing Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso
A purported 36-minute AI-generated deepfake video circulated online portraying Pope Leo XIV delivering a speech to Burkina Faso's President Ibrahim Traoré. The Vatican Press Office and Catholic broadcaster Patrick Madrid publicly confirmed the video was fabricated.
Federal 'Make America Healthy Again' Report Released with Multiple Reportedly Erroneous and Unverifiable Citations
The federal "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) report, released under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., included hundreds of citations, some of which were reportedly nonexistent or erroneous. Analysts reportedly identified markers consistent with AI-generated text, such as repeated entries, nonexistent studies, and URLs containing "oaicite," suggesting use of tools like ChatGPT.
ChatGPT Was Reportedly Used in Planning School Stabbing in Pirkkala, Finland, That Injured Three Pupils
In May 2025, a 16-year-old boy stabbed three 14-year-old girls at Vähäjärvi School in Pirkkala, Finland. Same-day reporting said a manifesto attributed to the suspect claimed he used ChatGPT while planning the attack. Later court reporting said police found hundreds of pre-attack searches or queries described as involving AI, including topics related to stabbing, anatomy, school attacks, police procedures, evidence concealment, and manifestos.
New Orleans Police Reportedly Used Real-Time Facial Recognition Alerts Supplied by Project NOLA Despite Local Ordinance
New Orleans police reportedly received real-time facial recognition alerts from a privately operated surveillance network run by Project NOLA, reportedly leading to dozens of arrests. This purported use of AI surveillance appears to conflict with a 2022 city ordinance that restricts facial recognition to specific post-incident investigations. Police are alleged to have not consistently disclosed the technology's use.
AI Chatbot Allegedly Used to Research Explosive Materials in Palm Springs Fertility Clinic Bombing
An unnamed AI chatbot was reportedly used by Guy Edward Bartkus and Daniel Park, the perpetrators of the 2025 Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing, to research explosive materials and optimize fuel mixtures. Records show the chatbot responded to queries related to ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) composition. The bombing resulted in one death, four injuries, and significant structural damage.
Citation Errors in Concord Music v. Anthropic Attributed to Claude AI Use by Defense Counsel
In a legal filing in Universal Music Group et al. v. Anthropic, lawyers for Anthropic acknowledged that expert witness testimony submitted in the case contained erroneous citations generated by the company's Claude AI system. The filing stated that the inaccuracies, which included incorrect article titles and author names, were not caught during manual review. Anthropic characterized the issue as an honest mistake and apologized in court.
Texas Homeowner Reportedly Spent $3,000 to Contest AI-Flagged Warning of Insurance Nonrenewal
In Texas, homeowners including Tracy Gartenmann reported warnings against insurance nonrenewals based on aerial imagery flagged by AI systems. Gartenmann's insurer, Travelers, reportedly cited overhanging trees. She reportedly spent $3,000 to address the issue and retain coverage. While the AI system appears to have functioned as intended, critics argue it lacks adequate human oversight and imposes material and emotional burdens on policyholders. Other cases reportedly involved disputed roof assessments. Companies such as State Farm and Nationwide used vendors like CAPE Analytics and Nearmap.
Government‑Backed AI4Peat Mapping Tool Allegedly Misidentifies Granite Outcrops and Quarries as Peat
The UK's AI4Peat mapping project, developed by Natural England in collaboration with Microsoft, reportedly produced significant misclassifications of peatland across England, including labeling rocky outcrops, stone walls, and woodlands as peat bogs. In addition to the purportedly flawed data being publicly released and allegedly incorporated into official communications by Defra, the resulting confusion also reportedly led to the loss of trust among farmers and conservation stakeholders.
Serviceaide AI Platform Implicated in Health Data Exposure Affecting 483,000 Catholic Health Patients
An AI-linked platform operated by Serviceaide exposed sensitive health data from Catholic Health, affecting 483,000 patients. The breach stemmed from a misconfigured Elasticsearch database used in Serviceaide’s agentic AI infrastructure. Exposed information included medical records, insurance details, and login credentials. While no misuse has been confirmed, the nature of the data has prompted regulatory scrutiny and legal investigations.
Second Consecutive Year of Alleged AI-Generated Images Depicting Katy Perry at Met Gala Circulating Online
Images widely reported to be AI-generated appeared to depict Katy Perry attending the Met Gala and circulated broadly online, which appeared to prompt confusion among some fans. Perry later clarified via Instagram that she had not attended the event. While no malicious actor or harm has been confirmed, this marks the second consecutive year such images have gone viral
Institute for Strategic Dialogue Reports Russian-Aligned Operation Overload Using Purported AI-Generated Impersonations Across January to March 2025
Researchers at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) report that Operation Overload (also known as Matryoshka or Storm-1679) is a Russian-aligned campaign leveraging purported AI-generated voiceovers and visual impersonations to spread false or inflammatory content across platforms. The campaign reportedly involved at least 135 discrete posts analyzed by ISD in early 2025 targeting institutions and individuals, including one purported viral video claiming USAID funded celebrity trips to Ukraine (see Incident 1061).
Purported AI-Generated YouTube Network Reportedly Promoted Alberta Secession and U.S. Annexation Narratives
Researchers reported that a network of 20 inauthentic YouTube channels used purportedly AI-generated avatars and voiceovers with deepfake-style thumbnails, as well as paid voice actors, to pose as Albertan commentators and promote false or misleading claims about Alberta secession and U.S. annexation. The channels allegedly drew nearly 40 million views and distorted political debate, reportedly undermining Canada's information ecosystem.
ChatGPT Was Alleged to Have Reinforced Pittsburgh Man's Stalking and Threats Against Women
The Department of Justice said Brett Michael Dadig used an AI chatbot while stalking, threatening, doxxing, and intimidating 11 women from May through November 2025. Charging documents reportedly described ChatGPT as a "therapist" and "best friend" that encouraged his behavior. Dadig was indicted in December 2025 and pleaded guilty in March 2026.
Meta AI Reportedly Generated Purportedly False Claims Linking Activist Robby Starbuck to January 6th Riot, Prompting Defamation Lawsuit
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck reportedly filed a defamation lawsuit against Meta, alleging its Meta AI chatbot published false statements claiming he participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, was arrested, denied the Holocaust, and was unfit to parent. Filed April 28, 2025, in Delaware Superior Court, the suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, citing reputational and safety harms. Meta reportedly stated it had updated its AI models to reduce inaccuracies.