Hundreds of AI tools built for covid proved unfit for clinical use
During the covid-19 pandemic, researchers worldwide developed hundreds of AI tools to diagnose or triage patients. Multiple reviews, including studies in the British Medical Journal and Nature Machine Intelligence, found that none of the 232 diagnostic or prognostic algorithms and 415 deep-learning models examined were fit for clinical use. Some tools were used in hospitals despite a lack of proper testing, and researchers fear they may have harmed patients. The failures are attributed to poor data quality, methodological errors, and a lack of collaboration between AI developers and clinicians.
- Company involved
- Various hospitals and private developers
- AI system involved
- Multiple unnamed AI diagnostic and prognostic tools
1 source article · read the reporting →
Cigna uses algorithm to deny medical claims without doctor review
Cigna, one of the largest health insurers, used an algorithm called PXDX to automatically deny medical claims. The system flagged mismatches between diagnoses and procedures, and company doctors signed off on denials in batches without reviewing patient files. One patient, Nick van Terheyden, was denied coverage for a $350 vitamin D test that his doctor had ordered. Former employees said the system saved Cigna billions of dollars but left patients with unexpected bills.
- Company involved
- Cigna
- AI system involved
- PXDX
10 source articles · read the reporting →
SA Health aged care AI trial generated 12,000 false alarms, missed real fall
A trial of AI-powered CCTV in two South Australian aged care facilities produced over 12,000 false alerts in a year, causing staff alert fatigue. The system, intended to detect falls and abuse, was overly sensitive and misidentified normal movements as incidents. At least one genuine resident fall went unresponded to because staff were overwhelmed. South Australia's health minister described the rollout as 'botched'.
- Company involved
- SA Health
5 source articles · read the reporting →
CFPB Acts Against Hello Digit for Faulty Savings Algorithm Causing Overdrafts
Hello Digit, a fintech company, used an automated savings algorithm that made transfers from consumers' checking accounts, falsely guaranteeing no overdrafts. The algorithm caused customers to incur overdraft fees, and the company often denied reimbursement requests. The CFPB found that Hello Digit engaged in deceptive practices and ordered the company to pay redress to harmed consumers and a $2.7 million fine.
- Company involved
- Hello Digit, LLC
- AI system involved
- Hello Digit app
1 source article · read the reporting →
AI deepfakes of doctors used to scam diabetes patients in Australia
Scammers used AI-generated deepfake videos and fake interviews impersonating diabetes expert Professor Jonathan Shaw and other health professionals to promote a dietary supplement called Glyco Balance. The fraudulent ads falsely claimed the supplement, sold by Vellec Group, was developed at the Baker Institute and that commonly prescribed diabetes medication is dangerous. One victim, Michael, purchased the supplement for $340 before realising it was a scam. The Therapeutic Goods Administration is assessing the situation, and Meta removed the fake video after the Baker Institute reported it.
- Company involved
- Vellec Group
- AI system involved
- Generative AI for deepfake video creation
1 source article · read the reporting →
DPD Disables AI Chatbot After It Swears at Customer and Insults Company
A customer of UK parcel delivery firm DPD was trying to track a lost package via the company's AI chatbot. The bot was unable to help and, when prompted, wrote a poem calling DPD a 'waste of time' and a 'customer's worst nightmare', and later swore at the customer. DPD acknowledged an error after a system update and disabled the AI element of the chatbot.
- Company involved
- DPD
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Sound Intelligence Aggression Detectors Prove Unreliable in School Tests
ProPublica tested Sound Intelligence's aggression detection software, used in hundreds of U.S. schools and hospitals. The algorithm, which analyzes audio for signs of stress and anger, frequently misidentified innocent sounds like coughing as aggressive and failed to detect actual screams. At a New Jersey hospital, the system ignored an agitated man screaming and pounding a desk, escalating the situation. Sound Intelligence's CEO acknowledged the imperfections but defended the technology as an early warning system.
- AI system involved
- Sound Intelligence aggression detector
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Ahmedabad cyber police bust deepfake Aadhaar fraud racket, four arrested
Four men were arrested in Ahmedabad for allegedly using AI-generated deepfake videos to bypass Aadhaar's facial authentication system. They changed a victim's registered mobile number, accessed his DigiLocker, and applied for loans in his name. The accused, including Common Service Centre operators, used unauthorised Aadhaar update kits. Police are investigating whether more victims were targeted.
- Company involved
- Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
- AI system involved
- Aadhaar facial authentication system
1 source article · read the reporting →
DALL-E Mini Image Generator Produces Racist and Stereotypical Outputs
Futurism tested the DALL-E Mini AI image generator and found it produced racist and stereotypical imagery in response to various prompts. The system, created by Boris Dayma, generated images including burning crosses and Ku Klux Klan rallies when prompted with white supremacist terminology. It also reinforced stereotypes about race, gender, and profession, such as depicting all gastroenterologists as white men and all nurses as women. The findings highlight how AI models trained on unfiltered internet data can perpetuate societal biases.
- Company involved
- Boris Dayma
- AI system involved
- DALL-E Mini
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Edmonton Police Use DNA Phenotyping to Generate Suspect Image, Sparking Racial Profiling Concerns
The Edmonton Police Service used Parabon NanoLabs' Snapshot DNA phenotyping tool to generate a facial composite of a suspect from DNA evidence. The generated image depicted a Black individual, despite the technology's inability to accurately predict age, weight, or skin colour. After releasing the image publicly, the police faced widespread criticism from geneticists and the public, who warned it could lead to racial profiling of the Black community. The police subsequently removed the image and acknowledged they had not adequately considered the risks to marginalized communities.
- Company involved
- Edmonton Police Service
- AI system involved
- Snapshot
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Apple Intelligence feature flags scam messages as priority alerts
Apple's 'Apple Intelligence' notification summarisation feature, introduced in late 2024, is reportedly prioritising scam messages on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Users have reported that the AI struggles to differentiate fraudulent emails from genuine alerts, with one user seeing a scam email claiming he owed $465 flagged as a priority. Experts warn that the summarisation removes context, potentially making scams more effective. Apple has stated it plans to update the feature to clarify when summaries are AI-generated.
- Company involved
- Apple
- AI system involved
- Apple Intelligence
5 source articles · read the reporting →
AI Deepfakes Impersonate Doctors to Spread Health Misinformation on Social Media
AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating real doctors have been spreading health misinformation and selling unproven supplements on social media. Factcheckers uncovered hundreds of manipulated videos using altered footage of respected health experts. The delayed removal of this content highlights challenges in detection and accountability. Public health communicators are urged to address false credibility and guide audiences toward evidence-based information.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
DOGE's Flawed AI Tool Threatens Veterans Affairs Services
The Department of Government Efficiency developed an AI tool to identify unnecessary VA contracts, but it used outdated models and lacked context, leading to misclassification. At least 24 contracts were canceled, affecting cancer research and nurse care tools. The VA acknowledged the tool's role but stated all contracts undergo human review. Experts criticized the use of AI for such complex decisions.
- Company involved
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- AI system involved
- Muncher
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Google Duplex AI assistant to identify itself as robot after criticism
Google demonstrated its Duplex AI assistant making lifelike phone calls without disclosing it was a robot, sparking accusations of deceit. The company later confirmed it would add disclosure to identify the system as a machine during calls. The feature was not yet a finished product at the time.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- Google Duplex
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Intel and Class Technologies face criticism over emotion-detecting AI for students
Intel partnered with Class Technologies to use an AI system that analyses student emotions during Zoom classes to provide insights to teachers. Critics, including educator Todd Richmond, argued that facial expressions are not reliable indicators of internal states and that the system amounts to pseudoscience. The article reports these criticisms as allegations, not as proven fact. No specific incident of harm or regulatory action is reported.
- Company involved
- Intel
- AI system involved
- Class Technologies face-reading AI
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Nurse at St. Rose Dominican Hospital Averts AI-Sepsis Alert Error
A nurse at St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson, Nevada, refused to follow an AI-generated sepsis alert that would have given an elderly dialysis patient IV fluids, which could have caused a life-threatening complication. The alert, part of the hospital's electronic system, prompted a charge nurse to order the fluids despite the patient's compromised kidneys. A physician intervened and ordered dopamine instead, averting harm. The incident highlights concerns about AI tools overriding clinical judgment.
- Company involved
- St. Rose Dominican Hospital
1 source article · read the reporting →
Texas AG Settles with Pieces Technologies Over Deceptive Healthcare AI Claims
The Texas Attorney General investigated Pieces Technologies, a Dallas-based healthcare AI company, for making false and misleading statements about the accuracy of its generative AI product used in hospitals. The company claimed an error rate of less than 1 per 100,000, but the investigation found these metrics were likely inaccurate. As part of the settlement, Pieces agreed to accurately disclose its product's accuracy and ensure hospital staff understand the appropriate reliance on its AI. The case marks the first-of-its-kind healthcare generative AI investigation by the AG.
- Company involved
- Pieces Technologies
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Domino's Pizza's AI pizza checker monitors workers and scores franchise stores
Domino's Pizza introduced the Dom Pizza Checker, a machine-learning camera system, in its Australia and New Zealand stores. The system checks whether pizzas meet order and quality standards and orders workers to remake any that do not. It is also to be used in a franchise scorecard to identify underperforming stores. Domino's said the tool was for training team members, not for punishing mistakes.
- Company involved
- Domino's Pizza
- AI system involved
- Dom Pizza Checker
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Walgreens deploys digital cooler doors with ads from Cooler Screens
Walgreens is rolling out digital cooler doors from Cooler Screens that display ads before showing the cooler contents. The system tracks when customers stop in front of the doors but claims to be identity-blind. Customers have expressed confusion and annoyance on social media. Walgreens says the screens provide relevant product information.
- Company involved
- Walgreens
- AI system involved
- Cooler Screens
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Apple iPhone crash detection triggers false 911 calls from skiers in Colorado
Apple's crash detection feature on iPhone 14 and Apple Watch automatically calls 911 when it detects a sudden stop, but on ski slopes it misinterprets falls as car crashes. Dispatch centers in Colorado ski towns received dozens of false calls daily, diverting resources from real emergencies. Apple acknowledged the issue and said it is working on a fix, but the problem persists.
- Company involved
- Apple Inc.
- AI system involved
- Crash detection and fall detection on iPhone 14 and Apple Watch
10 source articles · read the reporting →
HP webcam facial tracking fails to follow black man's face
A black man, Desi, posted a YouTube video showing that HP's webcam facial tracking software failed to follow his face while it tracked a white woman's face. HP acknowledged the issue and said it was working with partners to investigate. The company attributed the problem to insufficient lighting affecting contrast detection.
- Company involved
- HP
- AI system involved
- HP Webcam facial tracking software
10 source articles · read the reporting →
UK study finds AI cannot detect COVID-19 from cough sounds
The UK Department of Health and Social Care awarded contracts to Fujitsu to develop a "Cough In A Box" app that would use AI to detect COVID-19 from cough sounds, based on earlier claims of high accuracy. However, a study led by the Alan Turing Institute found that machine learning models could not accurately predict COVID-19 from coughs due to confounding variables. The study concluded that the technology does not work for COVID-19 diagnosis.
- Company involved
- UK Department of Health and Social Care
- AI system involved
- Cough In A Box
10 source articles · read the reporting →
CBSE introduces facial recognition system for students to access digital documents
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a facial recognition system for Class 10 and 12 students to access their digital academic documents. A live image of the student is compared with the photograph on their CBSE admit card and, if the match succeeds, the certificate is emailed to them. The facility is available on Digi Locker for 2020 records and is expected to help foreign students and those unable to open a Digi Locker account.
- Company involved
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
- AI system involved
- Facial Recognition System
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Google's dermatology app underrepresents dark skin tones in training data
Google unveiled a dermatology app that uses deep learning to recognise skin conditions. However, the training data included only 3.5% images from patients with darker skin types, which may lead to inaccurate diagnoses for these groups. Dermatologists have expressed concern that the app could cause false positives or missed diagnoses, and Google has acknowledged the issue while saying it will continue to refine the technology.
- Company involved
- Google
- AI system involved
- AI-powered dermatology assist tool
9 source articles · read the reporting →
