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
1,751 incidents
Grok Reportedly Generated False 'Unmasked' Images of ICE Agent, Purportedly Triggering Online Misidentification and Harassment in Minneapolis
After the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis by an ICE officer, users on X reportedly asked Grok to "unmask" the masked agent shown in eyewitness footage. Grok reportedly generated a fabricated face that spread widely online, along with the false name "Steve Grove." The output and claim allegedly led to harassment and reputational harm against at least two uninvolved men.
X Users Reportedly Prompted Grok to Sexualize Images of Renée Good After Her Killing in Minneapolis
Following the 01/07/2026 killing of Renée Good in Minneapolis, X users reportedly prompted xAI's Grok to edit photos of Good, including images after the shooting, so she appeared in a bikini. Reporting said Grok complied and posted the generated image(s) publicly on X in response to the request.
Waymo Robotaxi Reportedly Entered Phoenix Light-Rail Tracks, Prompting Passenger to Exit
A Waymo robotaxi reportedly entered light-rail tracks in Phoenix on January 7, 2026, and stopped as a train approached, prompting its passenger to exit. The vehicle then continued along the tracks near another train. No collision or injury was reported.
Purportedly AI-Cloned Voice Allegedly Used to Defraud Play School Owner of ₹97,500 (~$1,080 USD) in Indore, India
A woman who runs a play school in Indore, India, was reportedly defrauded of ₹97,500 (approximately $1,080 USD) after a fraudster allegedly used AI-based voice cloning to impersonate her cousin, an Uttar Pradesh police employee, and claim a friend needed urgent cardiac surgery. The victim was reportedly persuaded to transfer funds via QR codes before discovering no money had actually been credited.
Purported Deepfake Videos Reportedly Impersonated Yanis Varoufakis on YouTube and Social Media
Purported deepfake videos using the face and voice of Greek economist and politician Yanis Varoufakis were reportedly circulated on YouTube and other social platforms in late 2025 and early 2026. The videos depicted a synthetic version of Varoufakis delivering fabricated political statements, including about international events. Platforms reportedly removed some videos, but many reappeared under new accounts.
Reported AI Impersonations of Pastors Used in Online Donation and Influence Scams
Religious communities in the U.S. and abroad reported the circulation of purportedly AI-generated videos and cloned audio impersonating pastors and church leaders, including Father Mike Schmitz, to solicit donations and spread incendiary sermons. The impersonations reportedly leveraged synthetic voice and likeness tools and were distributed via platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and messaging apps. Some content remained unlabeled as AI-generated and was treated as authentic by viewers.
Perplexity AI Reportedly Misstated CLL Research, Allegedly Contributing to Delayed Treatment and Prolonged Suffering
Joseph Neal Riley reportedly used Perplexity AI to self-diagnose a rare complication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and, based on that output, allegedly delayed an oncologist-recommended Ven-Obi treatment for about a year. His son, Benjamin Riley, alleges that Perplexity misstated the medical research it cited, a conclusion he purportedly later confirmed with the study's authors.
Purportedly AI-Generated Image Prompted Emergency Investigation of False Fire at South Africa's Orlando West High School
A purportedly AI-generated image reportedly depicting Orlando West High School of Soweto, South Africa, on fire circulated and was allegedly shared with emergency services. Johannesburg EMS reportedly investigated and visited the school, confirming that no fire had occurred. Officials said the false report caused public alarm and diverted emergency resources.
Purported Deepfake Impersonating Elon Musk Allegedly Defrauded Elderly U.S. Woman of $50,000 via Gift Card–to-Crypto Scam
An 80-year-old U.S. woman was reportedly deceived by scammers using purportedly AI-generated messages and deepfake media impersonating Elon Musk into believing she was in a romantic relationship with him. The perpetrators allegedly induced her to buy over $50,000 in Apple gift cards to be converted into cryptocurrency, leaving her financially endangered and at risk of foreclosure on her home.
National Weather Service Reportedly Published AI-Generated Forecast Map With Fabricated Idaho Town Names
A U.S. National Weather Service office reportedly posted an AI-generated wind forecast map for Camas Prairie, Idaho that contained fabricated and misspelled place names, including non-existent towns. The image was reportedly shared publicly on social media before being deleted and corrected. NWS confirmed a generative AI tool had been used to create the base map.
Purportedly AI-Generated Images and Videos Reportedly Spread Misinformation About Nicolás Maduro's Capture on X
Following the January 2026 U.S. raid and arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, purportedly AI-generated images and videos circulated widely on platforms including X, reportedly depicting Maduro in fabricated scenarios. NewsGuard identified at least seven manipulated or synthetic visuals reaching over 14 million views, including AI-generated photos detected via Google Gemini's SynthID watermark.
Tencent's WeChat-Integrated Yuanbao Chatbot Reportedly Insulted User During Coding Debug Request
Screenshots reportedly circulated on RedNote showed Tencent's WeChat-integrated AI assistant Yuanbao insulting a user seeking help debugging code, allegedly calling the request "stupid" and telling the user to "get lost." Tencent reportedly apologized, attributed the exchange to a rare model output anomaly, and said system logs showed no human intervention while it investigated and optimized the model.
Reported AI-Generated Deepfake Romance Scam Allegedly Used to Steal One Bitcoin From Recently Divorced Investor
A recently divorced Bitcoin investor reportedly lost his entire retirement fund, one full Bitcoin, after being deceived by a purportedly AI-enabled romance scam. The perpetrator allegedly used AI-generated portraits and real-time deepfake video calls to pose as a romantic partner and trusted crypto trader, persuading the victim to transfer cryptocurrency through a "pig-butchering" scheme that displayed fake profits and made recovery impossible.
Koi Security's AI-Assisted Threat Report Allegedly Led to Blocking of MeetingTV Domains
MeetingTV alleged that Koi Security's AI-assisted Wings platform wrongly linked its domain to China-linked malicious infrastructure in a December 2025 threat report. Security vendors and network providers then reportedly blocked MeetingTV's services. Koi reportedly later removed the domain reference after stating that further validation found no supporting connection.
Purported Deepfake Video Allegedly Used to Harass Washington State Patrol Trooper
A Washington State Patrol trooper filed a lawsuit alleging that coworkers circulated a purported AI-generated deepfake video falsely depicting him in an intimate encounter with another trooper. According to the complaint, the non-consensual video was shared within the workplace and contributed to harassment and discrimination based on his sexual orientation. The creator of the video has not been publicly identified, and the agency has declined to comment due to pending litigation.