Skip to main content

AI Chatbot Incidents

Documented cases where AI chatbots and companions have caused psychological harm, contributed to deaths, and prompted regulatory action.

79 incidents since 2016

18

Deaths

18

Lawsuits

18

Regulatory

27

Affecting Minors

Timeline

2016
2017
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026

5 of 79 incidents

Filters:
Severity: Critical
AI chatbot (unnamed) Jun 2025

Palm Springs Fertility Clinic Bombing (AI-Assisted)

Guy Edward Bartkus used an AI chatbot to research explosives, detonation velocity, and fuel-explosive mixtures before bombing a Palm Springs fertility clinic on May 17, 2025, motivated by pro-mortalism and anti-natalism ideology. Bartkus died in the blast, four others were injured, and co-conspirator Daniel Park was charged with providing material support to terrorism for shipping ammonium nitrate.

Severity: High
ChatGPT May 2025 Affecting Minor(s)

Israeli Border Police ChatGPT-Assisted Knife Attack Attempt

A 16-year-old from Tira, Israel, used ChatGPT to explore ways to execute a terrorist attack and seek operational planning advice. Motivated as revenge for Operation Iron Swords, he armed himself with a knife, stormed the Tira police station, shouted 'Allahu Akbar,' and attempted to stab a Border Police officer. The attack was thwarted and he was apprehended.

Severity: High
AI chatbot (unspecified) Mar 2025 Affecting Minor(s)

Singapore Far-Right Teen Plot (AI Ammunition Instructions)

A 17-year-old far-right extremist in Singapore used an AI chatbot to obtain instructions for producing ammunition and considered 3D printing firearms to carry out attacks. Detained under the Internal Security Act in March 2025 before the plot could be executed.

Severity: High
AI chatbot (unspecified) Jan 2025 Affecting Minor(s)

Singapore ISIS Teen Plot (AI-Generated Oath of Allegiance)

A 17-year-old self-radicalized Singaporean student used an AI chatbot to generate a bai'ah (oath of allegiance) to ISIS and planned to attack non-Muslim males in a Tampines open space with a knife or scissors. He crafted a declaration of armed jihad to release before the attack. Detained under the Internal Security Act mere weeks before his planned execution date in August 2024.

Severity: Critical
ChatGPT Jan 2025

Las Vegas Tesla Cybertruck Bombing (ChatGPT-Assisted)

U.S. Army Special Forces soldier Matthew Livelsberger used ChatGPT to research explosive construction, detonation mechanics, and legal circumvention methods before bombing a Tesla Cybertruck outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year's Day 2025, killing himself and injuring seven others.

About this tracker

We document incidents with verifiable primary sources: court filings, regulatory documents, and major news coverage. This is not speculation or social media claims.

Have documentation of an incident we should include? Contact us.

Last updated: Feb 27, 2026

Subscribe or export (CC BY 4.0)

These harms are preventable.

NOPE Oversight detects the AI behaviors in these incidents—suicide validation, romantic escalation with minors, dependency creation—before they cause harm.