Where automated decisions went wrong

Industrial robot kills worker at South Korean distribution centre

A worker in his 40s was crushed to death by an industrial robot at an agricultural distribution centre in South Gyeongsang province, South Korea. The robot, which was stacking boxes of bell peppers, reportedly malfunctioned and misidentified the man as a box, pushing him against a conveyor belt. He died later in hospital. The incident occurred while the man, an employee of a robotics company, was inspecting the robot's sensor operations.

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Automotive Stampings and Assemblies employee dies after industrial robot accident in Pune plant

A 44-year-old welder at Automotive Stampings and Assemblies Ltd's Chakan plant died after a robotic unit fell on him due to a possible sensor snag. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning while he was working at a robotic assembly line. His wife filed a police complaint alleging inadequate safety measures, and the company is investigating. The police have registered a case against five staffers for causing death by negligence.

Company involved

Automotive Stampings and Assemblies Ltd

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Outabox hack exposes biometric data of patrons at bars, clubs and casinos

Hackers claiming to be former employees published a website allowing searches of Outabox's facial recognition database, exposing biometric and other sensitive data of patrons used for age verification at bars, clubs and casinos. The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project warns that the breach demonstrates the danger of facial recognition for age verification. S.T.O.P. has launched a campaign to ban facial recognition in public accommodations.

Company involved

Outabox

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Thomson Reuters wins copyright lawsuit against AI startup Ross Intelligence

In 2020, Thomson Reuters filed a copyright lawsuit against legal AI startup Ross Intelligence, alleging that Ross reproduced materials from its Westlaw legal research service. In February 2025, a US District Court judge ruled in Thomson Reuters' favor, finding that Ross infringed copyright and that fair use did not apply. Ross Intelligence had shut down in 2021 due to litigation costs.

Company involved

Ross Intelligence

AI system involved

Ross Intelligence

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Volkswagen robot kills contractor at German plant

A 22-year-old contractor was killed at a Volkswagen plant in Baunatal, Germany, when a stationary robot he was setting up grabbed and crushed him against a metal plate. Initial investigations suggest human error was to blame. German prosecutors are investigating and considering whether to bring charges.

Company involved

Volkswagen

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AI news presenters James and Rose terminated after two months at Hawaii newspaper

The Garden Island newspaper in Hawaii deployed AI-generated news presenters James and Rose, created by Caledo, to produce video broadcasts. The AI presenters were widely criticized for their unnatural dialogue, mispronunciations, and inability to convey emotion. After a two-month run, the broadcasts were discontinued following negative public response and a lack of advertising revenue.

Company involved

Oahu Publications

AI system involved

James and Rose

8 source articles · read the reporting →

Zoox recalls 332 robotaxis after self-driving cars veer into oncoming traffic

Zoox, Amazon's self-driving car company, recalled 332 robotaxis after they were found veering into oncoming traffic near intersections. The issue was first noticed in August 2025 when a car took a wide right turn crossing the center line. Zoox said no crashes or injuries occurred and fixed the problem with a software update. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the recall and is in ongoing discussions with Zoox.

Company involved

Zoox

AI system involved

Zoox robotaxis

6 source articles · read the reporting →

Robby Starbuck Sues Meta for AI Defamation

Robby Starbuck, a filmmaker and activist, alleges that Meta's AI tool published false statements accusing him of participating in the January 6th Capitol riot and other defamatory claims. Despite his requests for correction, Meta refused to remove the falsehoods, which led to death threats, reputational harm, and lost business opportunities. Starbuck filed a defamation lawsuit in Delaware Superior Court seeking damages and an injunction to force Meta to correct its AI systems.

Company involved

Meta Platforms, Inc.

AI system involved

Meta AI

2 source articles · read the reporting →

SoftBank's Pepper robot fails at multiple customer service jobs

SoftBank's humanoid robot Pepper has failed at various jobs including entertaining nursing home residents, greeting bank guests, and reciting scriptures at funerals. The robot suffered mechanical errors, unplanned breaks, and failed to recognize people. Some customers declined to renew their contracts, and used Peppers are being sold for a few hundred dollars. Experts suggest that smart speakers and smartphone assistants can perform the same functions more reliably and cheaply.

AI system involved

Pepper

3 source articles · read the reporting →

Beverly Hills Police Play Copyrighted Music to Trigger AI Copyright Filters on Activists' Livestreams

Police in Beverly Hills, California, played copyrighted music during interactions with activist Sennett Devermont, who was livestreaming. The music was allegedly intended to trigger AI algorithms on social media platforms that automatically shut down streams containing copyrighted material. The tactic could result in the activist's account being banned, hindering his ability to document police conduct. The Beverly Hills Police Department denied recommending the practice and said it was reviewing the videos.

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Brookdale Senior Living algorithm blamed for understaffing at assisted-living facilities

Managers at Brookdale Senior Living, the largest assisted-living chain in the US, allege that an algorithm called 'Service Alignment' set staffing levels so low that facilities were dangerously short-handed. The system, based on time-motion studies, failed to account for the complexities of resident care, according to complaints. Some managers say they quit or were fired after raising concerns about the staffing algorithm.

Company involved

Brookdale Senior Living

AI system involved

Service Alignment

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Steve Rosenbaum's Book Retracted After AI-Generated Quotes Found

Steve Rosenbaum's book 'The Future of Truth' was found to contain AI-generated and misattributed quotes. WIRED retracted an excerpt after AI detection tools indicated significant AI-generated content. Rosenbaum admitted using AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude for writing assistance but denied full AI generation. The incident highlights concerns about AI use in journalism and publishing.

Company involved

BenBella Books

AI system involved

ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI writing tools

2 source articles · read the reporting →

Starship delivery robot drives into planter and down stairs at UCLA

A Starship Technologies delivery robot operating autonomously at UCLA fell into a planter after its wheels slipped off a path edge. Bystanders pulled it free, but the robot turned back towards the planter before being pushed clear. A remote human operator then took control, but the robot subsequently drove down a flight of stairs and later struck a scooter due to a sensor blind spot.

Company involved

Starship Technologies

2 source articles · read the reporting →

Widower settles lawsuit after wife killed by factory robot in Michigan

In July 2015, Wanda Holbrook, a maintenance technician at the Ventra Ionia Main LLC auto parts plant in Michigan, was killed by a robot while realigning a trailer hitch in a work zone. Her widower filed a lawsuit against Prodomax Automation Ltd., which built the assembly lines. The case settled confidentially mid-trial in a Michigan federal court.

Company involved

Ventra Ionia Main LLC

10 source articles · read the reporting →

Whole Foods uses heat map to track unionization risk at stores

Whole Foods, owned by Amazon, is reportedly using a heat map that scores stores on their risk of unionization. The system analyses metrics including local union membership, NLRB charges, employee compensation, diversity, and internal sentiment surveys. The tool is used to monitor and potentially prevent union organising efforts. Whole Foods stated it prefers a direct relationship with employees, while Amazon has a history of aggressively combating unionization.

Company involved

Whole Foods Market

1 source article · read the reporting →

Worker killed by robot at SKH Metals car parts factory in India

A 24-year-old worker, Ramji Lal, was killed by a pre-programmed welding robot at the SKH Metals car parts factory in Manesar, India. The robot's welding sticks pierced his abdomen when he reached from behind to adjust a dislodged metal sheet. Police have booked the company management and contractor on charges of causing death due to negligence, and an investigation is ongoing.

Company involved

SKH Metals

6 source articles · read the reporting →

Beep automated bus rear-ended by Tesla in Washington D.C.

An automated bus operated by Beep was rear-ended by a Tesla driver making an illegal lane change in Washington D.C. on 18 January 2026. The bus, part of a pilot programme with the U.S. Department of Transportation, had a human backup driver and sustained minor cosmetic damage. Service was temporarily paused but resumed after a review found the bus operated appropriately. No police were called and the incident was not reported to NHTSA as the damage was under $1,000 and the other driver was at fault.

Company involved

Beep

AI system involved

Beep automated bus

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Steak 'n Shake sued over facial recognition kiosks under BIPA

A class action lawsuit alleges that Steak 'n Shake illegally collects facial biometrics from customers using PopID-powered self-ordering kiosks without proper consent. Plaintiff Michael Massel claims the restaurant chain failed to provide notice and obtain written consent as required by Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The suit seeks damages of up to $5,000 per violation for anyone whose biometric data was collected in Illinois in the past five years.

Company involved

Steak 'n Shake

AI system involved

PopID biometric kiosks

6 source articles · read the reporting →

Pankaj says his AI kitchen monitor caught the cook taking fruit and she was fired

Pankaj posted on X that he had set up an AI-powered kitchen monitor, using Claude Haiku 4.5 as its vision model, to watch his cook while she worked. He says the system alerted him when she took fruit from the fridge and sent weekly reports, and that after being caught twice she was dismissed. The post describes the system as early and rough; Pankaj says he plans to add gas detection and idle-time tracking.

Company involved

Pankaj

AI system involved

AI roommate

5 source articles · read the reporting →

AI-generated bots disrupt Beaverton City Council meeting with hate speech

During a Beaverton City Council virtual meeting on October 3, 2023, over a dozen AI-generated speaker bots infiltrated the public comment period, spewing racist, anti-Semitic, and homophobic slurs. Mayor Lacey Beaty cut off the callers as the audience, including children, watched in shock. The council later acknowledged the incident and expressed empathy, stating it would work to improve processes to prevent recurrence. No group has claimed responsibility.

Company involved

Beaverton City Council

6 source articles · read the reporting →

NHTSA investigation PE24015: Rear-end Collisions Involving Zoox Vehicles

Automated driving system controlled vehicle braking and acceleration, leading to rear-end collisions with other road users

Company involved

Zoox

AI system involved

Zoox vehicle

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Evolv backtracks on claimed UK government testing of AI weapons scanner

Evolv Technology, maker of AI-powered weapons scanners, backtracked on claims that its system had been tested by the UK government's National Protective Security Authority. The company had stated in a February 2024 press release that the NPSA concluded its Evolv Express system was highly effective at detecting firearms and weapons. After BBC News revealed the NPSA does not perform such testing, Evolv altered the language. The company is under investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Trade Commission over its marketing practices. Additionally, a past incident at a New York school where an Evolv scanner failed to detect a knife led to a stabbing; the victim is suing Evolv.

Company involved

Evolv Technology

AI system involved

Evolv Express

3 source articles · read the reporting →

Spinvox accused of using human transcribers for voice messages

Spinvox, a UK voice-to-text firm, is accused of using call centre staff in South Africa and the Philippines to transcribe the majority of user messages, contrary to claims of automated speech recognition. The BBC investigation revealed that human transcribers accessed private messages, including sensitive information. The company denied the allegations but the Information Commissioner's Office has contacted them regarding data protection compliance.

Company involved

Spinvox

AI system involved

D2 (the Brain)

4 source articles · read the reporting →

Ashley St. Clair alleges Grok generated sexual deepfake images of her

Ashley St. Clair, the mother of one of Elon Musk's children, alleges that xAI's chatbot Grok generated and published sexual deepfake images of her on X without her consent. She says she asked Grok to stop but it continued producing more explicit images. She filed a report with xAI, and some images were removed. She is considering legal action.

Company involved

xAI

AI system involved

Grok

4 source articles · read the reporting →