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
Collaborative Filtering Prone to Popularity Bias, Resulting in Overrepresentation of Popular Items in the Recommendation Outputs
Collaborative filtering prone to popularity bias, resulting in overrepresentation of popular items in the recommendation outputs.
TikTok's "For You" Algorithm Directed New Users towards Disinformation about the War in Ukraine
An investigation by NewsGuard into TikTok’s handling of content related to the Russia-Ukraine war showed its “For You” algorithm pushing new users towards false and misleading content about the war within less than an hour of signing up.
AI-Based Vehicle Speed Estimation App Denounced by UK Drivers as Surveillance Technology
Speedcam Anywhere, an app allowing users to document and report traffic violations via AI-based videographic speed estimation of a vehicle, raised concerns for UK drivers about its capabilities for surveillance and abuse.
Fake LinkedIn Profiles Created Using GAN Photos
More than a thousand inauthentic LinkedIn profiles using allegedly GAN-generated photos were notified by researchers at Stanford to LinkedIn’s staff, and many of which were removed for violating rules against creating fake profiles and falsifying information.
AI-Generated Profiles Used in Disinformation Campaign Targeting Ukrainians
According to security reports by Meta, fictitious personas with GAN-generated profile pictures were used by people operating in Russia and Ukraine to push a disinformation campaign targeting Ukrainian social media users, and were taken down.
'Pravda' Network, Successor to 'Portal Kombat,' Allegedly Seeding AI Models with Kremlin Disinformation
A purported Moscow-based disinformation network, Pravda, allegedly infiltrated AI models by flooding the internet with pro-Kremlin falsehoods. A NewsGuard audit found that 10 major AI chatbots repeated these narratives 33% of the time, citing Pravda sources as legitimate. The tactic, called "LLM grooming," manipulates AI training data to embed Russian propaganda. Pravda is part of Portal Kombat, a larger Russian disinformation network identified by VIGINUM in February 2024, but in operation since February 2022.
Google Search Reportedly Returned Fewer Results for Abortion Services in Rural Areas
Google Search reportedly returned fewer abortion clinics for searches from poorer and rural areas, particularly ones with Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP) laws.
Honorlock's AI Proctoring System Reportedly Led Broward College to Accuse a Teenager of Cheating
During a February 2022 online biology exam, Honorlock reportedly flagged a Florida teenager taking a Broward College class as suspicious. The student denied cheating, but Broward College allegedly relied on the remote-proctoring system's flag in pursuing an academic-dishonesty accusation that the student said was unfounded.
BMW Sedan Made a Prohibited Left Turn, Colliding with a Cruise Autonomous Vehicle
A BMW Sedan reportedly made an illegal left turn, causing a minor collision but no injuries with a Cruise autonomous vehicle (AV) operating in autonomous mode.
A Chinese Tech Worker at Zhihu Fired Allegedly via a Resignation Risk Prediction Algorithm
The firing of an employee at Zhihu, a large Q&A platform in China, was allegedly caused by the use of a behavioral perception algorithm which claimed to predict a worker’s resignation risk using their online footprints, such as browsing history and internal communication.
Uber Launched Opaque Algorithm That Changes Drivers' Payments in the US
Uber launched a new but opaque algorithm to determine drivers' pay in the US which allegedly caused drivers to experience lower fares, confusing fare drops, and a decrease in rides.
Amazon Reportedly Sold Products and Recommended Frequently Bought Together Items That Aid Suicide Attempts
Despite complaints notifying Amazon about the sale of various products that had been used to aid suicide attempts, its recommendation system reportedly continued selling them and suggesting their frequently bought-together items.
YouTuber Tested Tesla on Self Driving Mode, Colliding with Street Pylons
A YouTuber who was a Tesla’s employee conducted an on-road review of Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) Beta, showing its navigation in various road environments in San Jose and collision with a bollards during Autopilot, allegedly causing his dismissal from the company.
Justice Department’s Recidivism Risk Algorithm PATTERN Allegedly Caused Persistent Disparities Along Racial Lines
Department of Justice’s inmate-recidivism risk assessment tool was reported to have produced racially uneven results, misclassifying risk levels for inmates of color.
Alleged Macy's Facial Recognition Error Leads to Wrongful Arrest and Subsequent Sexual Assault in Jail
Harvey Murphy Jr. was wrongfully accused of robbing a Sunglass Hut due to an alleged misidentification by the facial recognition system operated by Macy's. While in custody for ten days, he was sexually assaulted. He is now suing Macy's, EssilorLuxottica (Sunglass Hut's parent), and others, for $10 million.