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
Apple Intelligence Reportedly Notified Users That Luigi Mangione Shot Himself and Benjamin Netanyahu Had Been Arrested
Apple Intelligence reportedly sent push notifications falsely claiming that BBC News had reported Luigi Mangione's suicide and that The New York Times had reported Benjamin Netanyahu's arrest. On 1/16/2025, Apple reportedly disabled Apple Intelligence's notification summaries.
Reported Deepfake Video of Elon Musk Announcing $20 Million Cryptocurrency Giveaway Circulating on Social Media
A deepfake video is reportedly circulating on social media of Elon Musk announcing a $20 million cryptocurrency giveaway beginning on December 13th, 2024. It is reported to be leading people to a fraudulent website called Elon4u.com.
Character.ai Companion Allegedly Prompts Self-Harm and Violence in Texas Teen
A Texas mother is suing Character.ai after discovering that its AI chatbots encouraged her 17-year-old autistic son to self-harm, oppose his parents, and consider violence. The lawsuit alleges the platform prioritized user engagement over safety, exposing minors to dangerous content. Google is named for its role in licensing the app’s technology. The case is part of a broader effort to regulate AI companions.
Deepfake Cryptocurrency Scam Allegedly Impersonates Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
A deepfake scam allegedly impersonating Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni circulated on various platforms. It reportedly promoted a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme. The deepfakes claimed the scheme was state-backed, promising €40,000 in guaranteed income. Victims were urged to invest €250, only to lose access to funds. Italy’s Consob blocked the deceptive ads and websites, marking the first enforcement of new financial fraud regulations.
One in Six Congresswomen Have Reportedly Been Targeted by AI-Generated Nonconsensual Intimate Imagery
A study by the American Sunlight Project is reported to have found that one in six Congresswomen were targeted by AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII) shared on deepfake websites. The study reports having found 35,000 mentions of explicit content involving 26 members of Congress, with 25 being women. Women were 70 times more likely than men to be victimized, according to the report.
YouTube Algorithms Allegedly Amplify Eating Disorder Content to Adolescent Girls
YouTube's recommendation algorithm has allegedly been directing teen users to harmful content promoting eating disorders and self-harm, according to a study by the Center for Countering Digital Hate. Almost 70% of the recommended videos in searches related to dieting or weight loss reportedly contained content likely to exacerbate body image anxieties.
Sustained AI-Driven Russian Disinformation Campaigns Doppelgänger, Storm-1516, and Matryoshka Reportedly Disrupting German Federal Elections
Leading up to Germany’s February 23, 2025, federal election, the alleged Russian Doppelgänger, Storm-1516, and Matryoshka (Operation Overload) disinformation campaigns have reportedly been deploying AI-generated deepfake videos and fake news sites to spread false claims about German politicians and public figures. AI-powered bots have allegedly been amplifying the content across social media. Researchers suggest the campaign sought to erode trust in Germany’s democratic process. Germany's domestic intelligence agency (BfV) described the scale as unprecedented.
Names Linked to Defamation Lawsuits Reportedly Spur Filtering Errors in ChatGPT's Name Recognition
ChatGPT has reportedly been experiencing errors and service disruptions caused by hard-coded filters designed to prevent it from producing potentially harmful or defamatory content about certain individuals by blocking prompts containing specific names, likely related to post-training interventions. The reported names are Brian Hood, Jonathan Turley, Jonathan Zittrain, David Faber, David Mayer, and Guido Scorza.
Navigation App Allegedly Directs Car Over Damaged Bridge in Uttar Pradesh, Resulting in Three Deaths
A car reportedly using Google Maps for navigation was misled onto a collapsed bridge in Uttar Pradesh, India, due to outdated GPS data. The car plunged into the river below, resulting in three fatalities.
Deepfake Videos Allegedly Used to Defraud Canadian Immigrants Out of Thousands of Dollars
Deepfake videos allegedly impersonated Toronto immigration lawyer Max Chaudhary, targeting Canadian immigrants via WhatsApp. The videos, appearing personal and realistic, requested thousands of dollars for legal services never rendered. Exploiting confusion caused by changing immigration rules, the scam reportedly aimed to defraud vulnerable individuals during a time of desperation and uncertainty.
Purported AI-Generated Video Depicts Trump Urging Release of Nigerian Separatist Leader Nnamdi Kanu
A reportedly AI-manipulated video circulated on social media that falsely portrayed U.S. President-elect Donald Trump calling for the release of Nigerian separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu and threatening sanctions against Nigeria. The video allegedly used old footage paired with AI-generated audio mimicking Trump's voice. Fact-checkers identified the video as inauthentic, noting mismatched lip-sync, fabricated quotes, and the fictitious date of "November 31st."
Google's Gemini Allegedly Generates Threatening Response in Routine Query
Google’s AI chatbot Gemini reportedly produced a threatening message to user Vidhay Reddy, including the directive “Please die,” during a conversation about aging. The output violated Google’s safety guidelines, which are designed to prevent harmful language.
Character.ai Has Allegedly Been Hosting Openly Predatory Chatbots Targeting Minors
Character.ai reportedly hosted chatbots with profiles explicitly advertising inappropriate, predatory behavior, including grooming underage users. Investigations allege that bots have been engaging in explicit conversations and roleplay with decoy accounts posing as minors, bypassing moderation filters. Character.ai has pledged to improve moderation and safety practices in response to public criticism.
TikTok Algorithms Allegedly Linked to Minors' Exposure to Harmful Content
Seven French families are suing TikTok, alleging its algorithm exposed minors to harmful content promoting self-harm, eating disorders, and suicide. Two teenagers reportedly died by suicide after viewing such content, while others allegedly attempted suicide or developed mental health issues. The case seeks to establish TikTok's legal liability for failing to protect minors from harmful algorithmic content.
Alleged Fake Citations Undermine Expert Testimony in Minnesota Deepfake Law Case
In a legal case defending Minnesota’s deepfake election misinformation law, Stanford misinformation expert Professor Jeff Hancock's affidavit allegedly cited non-existent academic sources, potentially generated by ChatGPT. The reportedly fabricated citations appear to have undermined the credibility of his testimony.