Air Canada Chatbot Fabricates Discount, Leading to Court Case
Air Canada's customer service chatbot allegedly fabricated a discount during a conversation with a customer last year. The incident resulted in a court case against the airline. Insurer Armilla stated that its new AI mishap policy would have covered the loss from selling tickets at the discounted price if the chatbot was found to have underperformed.
- Company involved
- Air Canada
- AI system involved
- chatbot
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Stefanina’s Wentzville warns customers against using Google AI for specials after false information causes anger
Stefanina’s Wentzville, a restaurant in Missouri, posted a warning on social media asking customers not to use Google AI to find their specials. The AI-generated overviews were providing inaccurate information about deals and menu items that did not exist, leading to angry customers yelling at employees. The restaurant stated it could not honour the fake specials and directed customers to its Facebook page or website instead. Google did not respond to requests for comment.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- Google AI Overviews
1 source article · 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 →
Gradient app charges users unexpected subscription fees after free trial
The Gradient app, a celebrity lookalike app promoted by the Kardashians, charges users $19.99 per month after a three-day free trial without clear disclosure. Users complained on social media about unexpected credit card charges. The app's developer, Ticket to the Moon, has not addressed the billing complaints but denied collecting user data.
- Company involved
- Ticket to the Moon, Inc.
- AI system involved
- Gradient
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Google AI Overviews provide inaccurate finance information in 43% of searches
A study by The College Investor found that Google's AI Overviews provided misleading or inaccurate information in 43% of 100 personal finance-related searches. The AI-generated answers included outdated tax rules and incorrect student loan repayment plan details. One user believed she could convert her 529 plan to a Roth IRA in California, which is not allowed. Google has not responded to requests for comment.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- AI Overviews
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Airbnb smart-pricing algorithm increased racial revenue gap, study finds
A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that Airbnb's smart-pricing algorithm increased the revenue gap between White and Black hosts, even though it narrowed the gap among hosts who adopted it. The algorithm, which sets daily prices automatically, was adopted by fewer Black hosts, so its suggested prices were closer to the optimum for White hosts. The researchers said the tool could reduce racial disparities only if more Black hosts adopted it.
- Company involved
- Airbnb
- AI system involved
- Airbnb smart-pricing algorithm
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Google allowed ads targeting racist search terms, disabled them after inquiry
BuzzFeed News discovered that Google's advertising platform allowed a campaign to target people searching racist phrases, and that Google's keyword tool suggested additional offensive terms. The campaign served 17 ad impressions before Google disabled most of the keywords after being contacted. Google acknowledged the breach of its policies and said it had turned off the suggestions.
- Company involved
- Google
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Microsoft pulls AI-generated article recommending Ottawa Food Bank to tourists
Microsoft published a travel article generated using algorithmic techniques that recommended the Ottawa Food Bank as a tourist attraction, advising visitors to go on an empty stomach. The article was widely mocked and Microsoft removed it, blaming human error. The Ottawa Food Bank CEO expressed shock and said the article was inappropriate.
- Company involved
- Microsoft
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Google Search AI falsely claims eggs can be melted
Google's Search AI featured snippet and its experimental SGE provided false information that eggs can be melted. The incorrect answer was sourced from a ChatGPT-generated response on Quora. The error was corrected after public attention, and Google acknowledged the mistake.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- Google Search
8 source articles · read the reporting →
French interior official used Google AI to refuse visas to two asylum seekers
A French interior ministry official used Google's AI to refuse visas to two female asylum seekers. The official boasted about this experiment in a memo presented to the administrative court. The case is now before the court.
- Company involved
- French Ministry of Interior
- AI system involved
- Google AI
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Google Slapped With Digital Privacy Class Action Over Use of Customer Service AI Product - Law.com
The system intercepted and analyzed customer service calls of Home Depot customers without their consent.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- Cloud Contact Center AI
1 source article · read the reporting →
N-Tech.lab's FindFace used to identify St Petersburg metro passengers without consent
Egor Tsvetkov photographed passengers on the St Petersburg metro without their permission and used N-Tech.lab's facial recognition service FindFace to match their faces to public Vkontakte profiles. He published the results in an art project called 'Your Face is Big Data', saying he wanted to show how 'digital narcissism' can lead to stalking. Privacy advocates said the project was ethically problematic because the subjects had not consented and their identities were exposed. FindFace had been launched by N-Tech.lab in February 2016.
- Company involved
- N-Tech.lab
- AI system involved
- FindFace
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Couple sues Google Maps after routing leads to gunpoint attack in South Africa
Jason and Katharine Zoladz allege that Google Maps directed them through the Nyanga neighborhood in Cape Town, South Africa, a dangerous area known as 'Hell Run.' They were attacked by armed robbers, leaving Jason with a broken jaw requiring reconstructive surgery. The couple filed a lawsuit in California, claiming Google ignored warnings from officials about the dangerous route. Google has since changed the routing but denies liability.
- Company involved
- Google LLC
- AI system involved
- Google Maps
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Air Canada liable for chatbot's misleading bereavement advice
Air Canada was found liable by the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal for misleading advice given by its website chatbot. The chatbot told a passenger they could retroactively claim a bereavement rate, but the airline later denied the claim. The tribunal ordered Air Canada to pay $812 in compensation, noting the airline's argument that the chatbot was a separate legal entity was 'remarkable'.
- Company involved
- Air Canada
- AI system involved
- Air Canada chatbot
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Google, Microsoft, OpenAI chatbots gave false EU election information
A report by Democracy Reporting International found that chatbots from Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI provided incorrect election dates and voting information to users ahead of the European Parliament election. The experiment, conducted in March 2024, tested the chatbots in multiple languages and found that they often hallucinated facts. The European Commission subsequently ordered the companies to explain their measures under the Digital Services Act. Google and Microsoft said they are restricting election-related queries.
- Company involved
- Google, Microsoft, OpenAI
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Google Maps falsely labels German autobahns as closed, causing traffic jams
On May 29, 2025, a glitch in Google Maps falsely displayed stop signs on German autobahns and highways, indicating they were closed. The misinformation caused traffic jams as drivers avoided the routes. Google acknowledged the issue and removed the incorrect closures, but the cause remains unclear, with speculation that AI features may have hallucinated the data.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- Google Maps
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Google AI Overviews generate erroneous search summaries
In May 2024, Google launched AI Overviews, a feature in Search that generates AI-powered summaries. Shortly after, users reported odd and erroneous overviews for some queries, including satirical or nonsense results. Google acknowledged the issues in a blog post and stated they made more than a dozen technical improvements to reduce inaccuracies. The company said that less than one in 7 million queries resulted in a content policy violation.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- AI Overviews
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Google and Bing surface nonconsensual deepfake porn in top search results
The article reports that Google and Bing search engines display nonconsensual deepfake pornographic images of female celebrities at the top of image search results when searching for women's names combined with "deepfakes" or general terms like "fake nudes". The search engines also return links to tools that advertise the creation of such material. Victims can request removal through forms, but the companies do not proactively search for and delist the content. Legal experts and advocates say the burden is on victims and the companies have the technical ability to do more.
- Company involved
- Google, Microsoft
- AI system involved
- Google Search, Bing Search
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Google Maps directed Tahoe travellers onto dangerous roads during snowstorm
During a severe snowstorm in the Lake Tahoe area in December 2021, Google Maps allegedly directed travellers to closed-off and dangerous roads, including a narrow forest road. A professor publicly criticised the routing as a failure that could lead to deaths. Google acknowledged the issue and stated it was working to update routes using information from local authorities.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- Google Maps
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Uber users angry over New Year's Eve surge pricing in Australia
Uber's dynamic pricing algorithm increased fares by up to 800% on New Year's Eve in Australia, leaving some users with bills hundreds of dollars above normal. Skye Shanahan was charged $720 for a trip that usually costs $100, and Kris Keen paid $330 for a $40 ride. Uber defended the surge pricing, saying it encourages more drivers, and offered $180 credit to Shanahan.
- Company involved
- Uber
- AI system involved
- surge pricing
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Delta uses AI from Fetcherr for domestic ticket pricing
Delta Air Lines is using generative AI from Fetcherr to determine some domestic flight prices, currently covering 3% of its network with plans to reach 20% by end of 2025. Democratic senators expressed concern that the AI could be used for individualized pricing based on personal data, leading to higher fares. Delta denies using personal data in pricing and states it complies with regulations. No actual harm has been reported.
- Company involved
- Delta Air Lines
- AI system involved
- Fetcherr
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Google Gemini generated false cheese statistic in Super Bowl ad
In a Google Super Bowl ad, the Gemini AI system displayed a false statistic claiming that Gouda accounts for 50 to 60 percent of the world's cheese consumption. Nate Hake pointed out the error on X, and Google executive Jerry Dischler responded that it was not a hallucination and that users could check references. Google later removed the statistic from the video on YouTube.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- Gemini
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Edinburgh Airport AI trial gives passengers different parking prices
Edinburgh Airport admitted it was trialling an AI system that randomly set higher or lower parking prices for online bookers, with customers receiving different quotes for the same service. The Scottish Passenger Agents Association called for the trial to be conducted in controlled 'lab' conditions rather than on the public. The airport said the AI's pricing closely matched staff-set prices and the findings would evaluate whether to adopt the system.
- Company involved
- Edinburgh Airport
- AI system involved
- AI trial for parking pricing
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Google apologises for Baftas alert containing racial slur
Google sent a news alert about the Bafta awards ceremony that included a racial slur, suggesting users 'see more' on the term. The alert was triggered by a failure in Google's safety features for push notifications. Google apologised and removed the notification, stating it was not due to generative AI.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- Google News alerts
5 source articles · read the reporting →
