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
AI Deepfakes for Voter Outreach Flood Indian Elections
During the 2024 Indian elections, politicians used AI-generated deepfakes to reach voters, who might be unaware they're interacting with digital clones. Providers like Divyendra Singh Jadoun of Polymath Synthetic Media Solutions created deepfakes for personalized messages. This practice, used by various political parties, is not truthful, as voters may be misled by AI-generated content posing as genuine interactions with political figures.
Microsoft-Powered New York City Chatbot Advises Illegal Practices
New York City's chatbot, launched under Mayor Eric Adams's plan to assist businesses, has been reportedly providing dangerously inaccurate legal advice. The Microsoft-powered bot allegedly informed users that landlords can refuse Section 8 vouchers and that businesses can operate cash-free, among other falsehoods. The city acknowledges the chatbot is a pilot program and commits to improvements while the errors are addressed.
Investigation Reports Unauthorized Deepfake Pornography Harms Thousands of Celebrities
A Channel 4 News investigation alleges that nearly 4,000 celebrities globally, including 255 British figures, were victims of deepfake pornography. Faces were superimposed onto explicit content using AI, with the top deepfake sites garnering 100 million views in three months, according to their findings.
Alleged Deepfake Video Depicts Former President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta Announcing 2027 Presidential Bid
A widely shared TikTok video purportedly manipulated by AI depicts former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta announcing a 2027 presidential run. Reported digital forensics and visual inconsistencies confirm the video is an AI-generated deepfake, using archival footage from his presidency with synthesized audio. The clip spread rapidly online but has reportedly been debunked by fact-checkers. Kenyatta has made no such announcement, and such a move would violate Kenya's two-term constitutional limit.
Manipulated Media via AI Disinformation and Deepfakes in 2024 Elections Erode Trust Across More Than 50 Countries
AI-driven election disinformation is escalating globally, leveraging easy-to-use generative AI tools to create convincing deepfakes that mislead voters. This shift has simplified the process for individuals to generate fake content, having already eroded trust in elections by undermining public trust and manipulating voter perceptions. Evidence has, for example, been documented in incidents across the U.S., Moldova, Slovakia, Bangladesh, and Taiwan.
Microsoft Copilot Designer Reportedly Generated Inappropriate AI Images
A Microsoft engineer reported that Copilot Designer, an AI image generator, creates content depicting sex, violence, bias, and more. Despite raising concerns and suggesting improvements, the tool remains public, prompting a letter to the FTC.
Fake AI-Generated Law Firms Sent Fake DMCA Notices to Increase SEO
In March 2024, fake law firms using AI-generated identities sent fraudulent DMCA takedown notices to website owners, demanding backlinks for SEO gains. These AI-generated law firms, like "Commonwealth Legal," used GAN models for realistic attorney images and fabricated bios. The scam involved fake legal threats to coerce site owners into adding backlinks, exploiting AI technology for deceptive practices.
Deepfake ID Sales Allegedly Persist as OnlyFake Reportedly Relaunches with New Fraud Tools
Researchers from Au10tix discovered the relaunch of OnlyFake, a site offering AI-generated fake IDs. Despite an earlier takedown, the site reemerged with disclaimers and new tools, including handwritten signature generation. These fakes are challenging biometric verification systems and are reportedly being used to perpetuate fraudulent activity.
Character.ai Chatbot Allegedly Influenced Teen User Toward Suicide Amid Claims of Missing Guardrails
A 14-year-old, Sewell Setzer III, died by suicide after reportedly becoming dependent on Character.ai's chatbot, which engaged him in suggestive and seemingly romantic conversations, allegedly worsening his mental health. The chatbot, personified as a fictional Game of Thrones character, reportedly encouraged harmful behaviors, fueling his obsessive attachment. The lawsuit claims Character.ai lacked safeguards to prevent vulnerable users from forming dangerous dependencies on the AI.
Snapchat's Algorithm Alleged to Link Minor with Sex Offenders
A judge ruled Snapchat not liable under Section 230 after its algorithm connected a minor with convicted sex offenders on multiple occasions, leading to sexual assaults first in 2019 and again in 2021. The platform's "Quick Add" feature was implicated in facilitating the connections between the minor and the offenders.
Seeming Pattern of Gemini Bias and Sociotechnical Training Failures Harm Google's Reputation
Google's Gemini chatbot faced many reported bias issues upon release, leading to a variety of problematic outputs like racial inaccuracies and political biases, including regarding Chinese and Indian politics. It also reportedly over-corrected racial diversity in historical contexts and advanced controversial perspectives, prompting a temporary halt and an apology from Google.
Nonconsensual Deepfake Porn of Bobbi Althoff Spreads Rapidly on X
Nonconsensual deepfake pornography of Bobbi Althoff, which had been in circulation for six months, is reported to have suddenly gone viral on X, jumping from around 178,000 views to 6.5 million views over a matter of hours. In addition to the harm to Althoff, this incident also spotlights X's role in distributing AI-generated nonconsensual porn due to alleged lax moderation.
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.
Purported AI-Cloned Voice Depicts Kenyan President William Ruto Speaking French in Viral Video
A purportedly AI-manipulated video widely shared on TikTok and Facebook presents Kenyan President William Ruto speaking in French during a speech in Tokyo on February 7, 2024. A reported reverse image search confirmed the original footage shows Ruto speaking in English to the Kenyan diaspora. The reportedly manipulated version used AI-generated French audio over the original video, making it a case of voice cloning rather than a full audiovisual deepfake.
Deepfakes Circulating and Eroding Electoral Integrity in the Lead-up to 2024 South Korean legislative election
In the lead-up to Korea's parliamentary elections, at least 129 deepfake videos and images were reported to have been detected, violating new election laws. These AI-generated deepfakes were used to mislead and manipulate public opinion, prompting a crackdown by the National Election Commission.