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
Google Bard Allegedly Generated Fake Legal Citations in Michael Cohen Case
Michael Cohen, former lawyer for Donald Trump, claims to have used Google Bard, an AI chatbot, to generate legal case citations. These false citations were unknowingly included in a court motion by Cohen's attorney, David M. Schwartz. The AI's misuse highlights emerging risks in legal technology, as AI-generated content increasingly infiltrates professional domains.
Waymo Software Flaw Reportedly Leads to Double Collision with Tow Truck
Two Waymo autonomous vehicles reportedly hit the same tow truck under unusual towing conditions due to a software misinterpretation in Phoenix, Arizona. Waymo reportedly issued a software recall and updated its fleet to prevent future such incidents.
Deepfake Nudes Targeting Underage Female Students at Collège Béliveau in Winnipeg Shared Online
At Collège Béliveau in Winnipeg, female students between grades 7-12 were targeted in the creation of deepfake nudes, which were then distributed online. Specific numbers and identities of victims and perpetrators were not released, and no charges were ultimately filed owing to the gap between existing laws and the nature of the incident.
Alleged Deepfake of Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong Falsely Shows Him Endorsing Commercial Products
A deepfake video falsely depicting Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong endorsing commercial products circulated online in December 2023. Wong publicly denied the endorsement, warning that scammers had used AI-generated deepfake technology to impersonate him. The manipulated media aimed to mislead the public into believing he promoted fraudulent investments. Wong urged vigilance against AI-driven scams and encouraged reporting through the ScamShield Bot on WhatsApp.
Students at a Beverly Hills Middle School Allegedly Created and Shared Deepfake Nudes of Their Classmates
At Beverly Vista Middle School in Beverly Hills, California, students allegedly used AI to generate fake nude photos with their classmates' faces, prompting investigations by school officials and the police. The incident highlights the increasing misuse of generative AI among minors.
Two Florida Middle School Students Arrested Under New Law for Allegedly Having Made and Shared Deepfake Nudes of Their Classmates
Two teenaged boys from Miami, Florida, were arrested for allegedly creating and sharing AI-generated nude images of their classmates. Charged under a 2022 Florida law, they face third-degree felonies for producing and disseminating altered sexual depictions.
Video with Reportedly AI-Generated Audio Purported to Show Croatian Footballer Luka Modrić Endorsing Immediate Matrix on Facebook Page Presented as N1 HR
A Facebook page presented as N1 HR, a Croatian news outlet, posted a video that purported to show Croatian footballer Luka Modrić endorsing the investment platform Immediate Matrix and promising returns of up to €4,000 per month. The clip was reported to use AI-generated audio and to link to an Index-style article promoting the scheme.
OpenDream AI Platform Reportedly Commercialized AI-Generated CSAM and Non-consensual Deepfake Sexual Images
OpenDream, an AI image generation platform operated by CBM Media Pte Ltd, reportedly allowed users to generate and monetize AI-generated CSAM and non-consensual sexual deepfakes through its public gallery and paid NSFW tools. The content was reported to be publicly accessible and indexed by search engines for months before limited moderation occurred in mid-2024, prompting takedowns by Google and Bing and the termination of its ad and payment services.
Purportedly Hallucinated Software Packages with Potential Malware Reportedly Downloaded Thousands of Times by Developers
Large language models have reportedly hallucinated non-existent software package names, some of which were subsequently uploaded to public repositories and incorporated into real codebases. In one case, a package named huggingface-cli, which was purported to have been originally suggested by an AI model, was downloaded more than 15,000 times. This dynamic enables what security researchers have termed "slopsquatting," in which attackers register hallucinated package names and introduce potential malware into software supply chains.
Underground Market for LLMs Powers Malware and Phishing Scams
A study by Indiana University researchers uncovered widespread misuse of large language models (LLMs) for cybercrime. Cybercriminals, according to that study, use LLMs like OpenAI's GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 to create malware, phishing scams, and scam websites. These models are available on underground markets, often bypassing safety checks through jailbreaking. Named malicious LLMs are BadGPT, XXXGPT, Evil-GPT, WormGPT, FraudGPT, BLACKHATGPT, EscapeGPT, DarkGPT, and WolfGPT.
Sports Illustrated Is Alleged to Have Used AI to Invent Fake Authors and Their Articles
Sports Illustrated, managed by The Arena Group, allegedly used AI-generated authors and content, compromising journalistic integrity. Profiles of these fictitious authors, complete with AI-generated headshots, appeared alongside articles, misleading readers. The issue was exposed when inconsistencies in author identities and writing quality were noticed, leading to the removal of this content from the publication's website.
AI-Generated Images Available through Adobe Stock Misrepresent Real-World Events
AI-generated images available through Adobe Stock, depicting realistic but fictional scenes of real-world events like wars and protests, have raised significant ethical concerns. These images blurred the lines between reality and fiction in journalistic contexts, prompting Adobe Stock to "crack down on AI-generated images that seem to depict real, newsworthy events and take new steps to prevent its images from being used in misleading ways."
Video Allegedly Altered by AI Reportedly Spreads Claim of Nigerian Doctor's Hypertension Cure
An alleged AI-manipulated video circulating on Facebook falsely claims that a Nigerian doctor has developed a drug that cures high blood pressure permanently within three days. The video, which reportedly mimics Channels Television news anchor Kayode Okikiolu, features manipulated audio and misleading content, including unverified guarantees of reducing stroke and heart attack risks to zero.
Microsoft AI Is Alleged to Have Generated Violent Imagery of Minorities and Public Figures
Microsoft's AI Image Creator, integrated with Bing and Windows Paint, allegedly produced disturbingly violent and graphic images featuring members of minority groups and public figures like Joe Biden and Pope Francis.
Deepfake Video Circulating of British Labour Leader Keir Starmer Touting an Investment Scheme
A deepfake video was circulating around social media of British Labour leader Keir Starmer touting an investment scheme.