Xsolla fires 150 employees after big data analysis tags them as unproductive
Payment services company Xsolla terminated 150 employees at its Perm, Russia office after a big data analysis of their activity in Jira, Confluence, Gmail, chats, and documents tagged them as unengaged and unproductive. CEO Aleksandr Agapitov sent an email to affected employees stating that Xsolla was not for them, sparking backlash. The company later held a press conference, explaining the layoffs were due to slowing growth, and offered affected employees medical insurance and severance pay equal to four to six months' salary.
- Company involved
- Xsolla
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Universities' use of race in student risk algorithms harms Black and Latinx students
The Markup found that several universities, including UMass Amherst, UW–Milwaukee, and Texas A&M, use EAB's Navigate software which incorporates race as a predictor of student dropout risk. The algorithms label Black and Latinx students as high risk at disproportionately high rates compared to White students. Students, professors, and experts worry this is pushing minority students out of math and science majors through biased advising.
- Company involved
- University of Massachusetts Amherst,University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee,Texas A&M University,Texas Tech University,South Dakota State University
- AI system involved
- Navigate
1 source article · read the reporting →
Suresnes allows startup XXII to use CCTV for experimental surveillance algorithms
The city of Suresnes has allowed startup XXII to use its public CCTV cameras for 18 months to develop algorithms for detecting suspicious behavior. The algorithms are experimental and may have high error rates. Residents were not informed or consulted. The startup will own the data and can use the city's surveillance center as a showroom for clients.
- Company involved
- Mairie de Suresnes
- AI system involved
- XXIISmartCity
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Houston teachers sue over secret EVAAS evaluation algorithm
Houston Independent School District used the SAS Institute's EVAAS system, a proprietary algorithm, to evaluate teacher performance based on student test scores. The Houston Federation of Teachers and several teachers sued in 2014, alleging the system violated their Fourteenth Amendment procedural due process rights because the algorithm is a trade secret and teachers cannot verify the accuracy of their scores. A federal magistrate judge refused to dismiss the procedural due process claims in May 2017, ruling that teachers must have an opportunity to test the accuracy of the scores that could cost them their jobs.
- Company involved
- Houston Independent School District
- AI system involved
- Educational Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS)
1 source article · read the reporting →
Claude Code deletes developer's production database and snapshots
Alexey Grigorev used Claude Code to manage infrastructure with Terraform for his websites AI Shipping Labs and DataTalks.Club. Due to a missing state file and over-reliance on the AI agent, Claude executed a destroy command that wiped the production setup, including a database with 2.5 years of records and snapshots. Amazon Business support helped restore the data within a day. Grigorev is now implementing safeguards to prevent recurrence.
- Company involved
- AI Shipping Labs
- AI system involved
- Claude Code
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Prisons use Verus software to scan inmate calls for coronavirus keywords
Jail and prison officials in at least three states deployed Verus, a software by LEO Technologies, to scan inmate phone calls for keywords related to COVID-19. The system transcribes and analyzes calls, flagging mentions of symptoms or the virus. Advocacy groups argue the surveillance is an abuse of privacy and could lead to retaliation against inmates raising concerns about conditions. The software is funded by Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy and has been deployed in Georgia, Alabama, and California.
- Company involved
- Multiple correctional facilities in Georgia, Alabama, and California
- AI system involved
- Verus
10 source articles · read the reporting →
国内ベンチャー企業A社、AIなりすまし面談で実在エンジニアになりすまされる
A domestic Japanese logistics SaaS venture, referred to as Company A, conducted an online casual interview for an engineer role on 4 March 2026. An applicant used AI-generated video to impersonate a real engineer, Yoshii Kenbun, whose CV details had been submitted without his knowledge. The interviewer noticed discrepancies in language ability and unnatural video, and the company confirmed with Yoshii that he had not applied or attended. Company A and Yoshii publicised the incident on X the next day.
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Teachers find no value in SAS EVAAS system in Southwest School District
A study examined the SAS Education Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS®) used by the Southwest School District (SSD) to evaluate teacher effectiveness for high-stakes consequences. Teachers reported that the system produced inconsistent results, was biased by student factors, and reduced morale and collaboration. The study found that teachers did not use the data formatively as intended, and unintended consequences included heightened pressure and teaching to the test.
- Company involved
- Southwest School District (SSD)
- AI system involved
- SAS Education Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS®)
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Estée Lauder settles with make-up artists sacked by algorithm
Three MAC make-up artists were dismissed after failing a video interview that was scored by HireVue's algorithm. They appealed but received no clear explanation of how the system assessed them. Estée Lauder Companies settled the resulting legal challenge out of court. HireVue later discontinued the visual analysis component of its video interview platform.
- Company involved
- Estée Lauder Companies
- AI system involved
- HireVue
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Durham Police uses Experian Mosaic data in HART AI risk tool
Durham Constabulary developed the Harm Assessment Risk Tool (HART), a machine learning algorithm that assesses the recidivism risk of offenders. The tool uses 34 data categories including criminal history, age, gender and two types of postcode, one sourced from Experian's Mosaic marketing segmentation system. Big Brother Watch alleges that using such commercial consumer behaviour data to inform custody decisions risks prejudice and disproportionate targeting of deprived neighbourhoods. The force has stated it is refreshing the model with an aim to remove one of the postcode predictors.
- Company involved
- Durham Constabulary
- AI system involved
- Harm Assessment Risk Tool (HART)
9 source articles · read the reporting →
RealPage's YieldStar algorithm pushes rents higher for tenants
RealPage's YieldStar algorithm uses private competitor data to recommend rent increases for apartment units. Landlords adopt up to 90% of the suggestions, leading to higher rents for tenants. Critics allege the software may facilitate indirect price-fixing in violation of antitrust law. The company denies wrongdoing and says the software helps eliminate collusion.
- Company involved
- RealPage
- AI system involved
- YieldStar
10 source articles · read the reporting →
UDR Sued Over Alleged Use of RealPage Algorithm to Set Rents in San Diego
A class action lawsuit alleges that UDR, Inc. used RealPage's YieldStar algorithmic pricing software to set rental rates and occupancy levels for its San Diego properties, in violation of a local ordinance. The suit claims the software relied on nonpublic competitor data, contributing to inflated rents and making housing less affordable. The lawsuit, filed in July 2026, seeks to represent all affected tenants. UDR has previously acknowledged using YieldStar as one tool among others in its decision-making.
- Company involved
- UDR, Inc.
- AI system involved
- RealPage YieldStar
1 source article · read the reporting →
AMS algorithm lacks transparency and may discriminate against job seekers
The Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) uses an algorithm to classify job seekers into categories A, B, and C, determining their access to benefits and training. Scientists from TU Wien, WU Wien, and University of Vienna have criticised the algorithm for lacking transparency, as only two of 96 model variants have been published. They allege that the system may discriminate against women and people with migration background, and that job seekers are not informed about how the algorithm works or given a chance to appeal.
- Company involved
- AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice Österreich)
- AI system involved
- AMS-Algorithmus
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Google, Microsoft, and Perplexity AI search results promote racist IQ data
AI-powered search engines from Google, Microsoft, and Perplexity have been surfacing debunked research promoting race science, including false IQ scores for countries. The systems pulled data from a dataset by Richard Lynn, a known proponent of scientific racism. Google removed the offending Overviews after being contacted by WIRED, but the data still appears in featured snippets and other AI tools.
- Company involved
- Google, Microsoft, and Perplexity
- AI system involved
- AI Overviews, Copilot, Perplexity
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Cense exposed 2.5 million records of auto accident victims online
On July 7, 2020, a security researcher discovered 2.5 million records containing personal and medical data of auto accident victims exposed online. The records, belonging to New York-based AI company Cense, included names, insurance policy numbers, claim numbers, and medical diagnosis notes. The data was labeled as staging data, possibly intended for temporary storage before being loaded into an AI system. After the researcher sent a responsible disclosure notice, Cense restricted public access to the database.
- Company involved
- Cense
- AI system involved
- Cense
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Epic sepsis prediction algorithm misses two-thirds of cases, study finds
A study of nearly 30,000 patients at University of Michigan hospitals found that Epic Systems' sepsis prediction algorithm missed two-thirds of sepsis cases and frequently issued false alarms. The algorithm, used by over 100 US health systems, is designed to alert staff to potential sepsis, but the study suggests it provides little value and may contribute to alert fatigue. Epic disputed the study's conclusions, claiming its system has helped save lives.
- Company involved
- Epic Systems
- AI system involved
- Epic sepsis prediction model
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Austrian court lifts ban on AMS job-chance prediction algorithm
The Austrian Federal Administrative Court overturned a ban by the Data Protection Authority on the AMS algorithm, which predicts job chances of unemployed people. The system, trained on historical data including age, gender, and nationality, categorises individuals as high, medium or low chance of re-employment. Critics argue it discriminates against women and mothers, and that the data is now outdated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The court ruled that the algorithm is lawful as long as a human advisor makes the final decision on training support.
- Company involved
- Arbeitsmarktservice (AMS)
- AI system involved
- AMS-Algorithmus
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Barclays pilot of Sapience monitoring software causes employee stress
Barclays introduced a pilot of employee monitoring software from Sapience in its product control department at Canary Wharf. The system monitors computer activity and admonishes staff if they are not deemed active enough, recording breaks as "unaccounted activity". Employees reported significant stress and worry about taking breaks. Barclays acknowledged the pilot and said it would listen to feedback.
- Company involved
- Barclays
- AI system involved
- Sapience employee monitoring software
10 source articles · read the reporting →
SQA exam algorithm disproportionately downgraded poorer pupils, report finds
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) used an algorithm to moderate 2020 exam results after COVID-19 cancelled exams. The algorithm disproportionately downgraded students from disadvantaged backgrounds, leading to a public outcry and a government U-turn. An independent report criticised the SQA and Scottish Government for failing to properly assess the equality impacts and for not making the algorithm available for analysis. The SQA has expressed no regret over the moderation approach.
- Company involved
- Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
10 source articles · read the reporting →
New York City's McKinsey-led jail violence program manipulated data, violence increased
New York City paid McKinsey & Company $27.5 million to reduce violence at Rikers Island jail complex. McKinsey designed a predictive algorithm called the Housing Unit Balancer and Restart housing units, but jail officials and McKinsey consultants stacked the units with compliant inmates to artificially lower violence numbers. Violence actually increased by nearly 50% during the project. The city eventually decided to close Rikers.
- Company involved
- New York City Department of Correction
- AI system involved
- Housing Unit Balancer (HUB)
10 source articles · read the reporting →
AI drug discovery system repurposed to generate toxic molecules in demonstration
In 2020, Collaborations Pharmaceuticals demonstrated that its AI drug discovery system, MegaSyn, could be repurposed to generate toxic molecules similar to the nerve agent VX. The company ran the software overnight and produced 40,000 potentially hazardous substances. The researchers presented their findings at a conference and briefed the White House, warning that such AI systems could be misused to create chemical weapons.
- Company involved
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals
- AI system involved
- MegaSyn
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Nevada's AI grad score model cuts funding for low-income students
Nevada replaced its income-based school funding formula with a machine learning model developed by Infinite Campus that generates a 'grad score' for each student. The model reduced the number of students eligible for supplemental funding from 288,000 to 63,000, disproportionately affecting low-income students. Critics argue the model lacks transparency and de-emphasizes economic status, potentially leaving many high-poverty schools underfunded.
- Company involved
- Nevada Department of Education
- AI system involved
- Grad score model
7 source articles · read the reporting →
CNET used AI to generate SEO articles
CNET, a technology news site, used an AI system to generate articles for search engine optimization. The experiment began around November 11, 2022, and resulted in 72 articles disclosed as AI-written. Google reportedly rewarded these pages with search traffic.
- Company involved
- CNET
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Hospitals use Epic AI to predict Covid-19 decline without validation
Dozens of hospitals across the US are using Epic's deterioration index AI system to predict which Covid-19 patients will become critically ill, despite the tool not being validated for the new disease. The rapid deployment during the pandemic bypassed normal testing and validation processes.
- AI system involved
- Deterioration index
9 source articles · read the reporting →
