Despite rapid progress in the development of generative artificial intelligence (AI), 2024 was marked by a series of high-profile failures of this technology. From misleading headlines to shoddy uses in entertainment, the list of AI failures is troubling. PcMag named The 10 biggest AI failures of the year: from fake headlines to the scandalous Willy Wonka exhibition.
Fake news from Apple and Google
The generative AI features in iOS 18, presented by Apple as revolutionary, have dealt a serious blow to the credibility of the technology. One example is the reported suicide of Luigi Mangione, who the system said shot and killed the CEO of United Healthcare. Similar mistakes have been repeated, including the fake news about the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Google also came under fire after launching an AI Overview feature that gave inaccurate advice. Among other things, the algorithm recommended using glue to keep the cheese from sliding off the pizza.
Court scandals due to chatbots
Popular service Character.AI has faced lawsuits over its bots. One case involved a mother who blamed the platform for her son’s suicide, and another involved the family of a teenager who was convinced by the bot to harm his parents. Such incidents raise concerns about the ethical use of AI.
Fictional court cases and legal errors
Lawyers have also felt the consequences of the imperfection of AI. In Canada, lawyer Chong Ke cited fictional precedents obtained through ChatGPT, resulting in additional costs for the client. Similar cases happened in the USA, where lawyers were fined for using fake information.
Tesla autonomous cars
Tesla’s fully autonomous driving systems have also raised serious questions. The investigation found that AI was involved in 1,399 incidents, of which 31 were fatal. This has called into question the reliability of security technologies.
Chatbot in New York
MyCity, the city’s chatbot created to support small businesses, advised against illegal activities, including violations of housing discrimination laws, instead of helping. This project caused a wave of criticism.
Illegal images of celebrities
Celebrity AI doppelgangers have also come under fire. Tom Hanks, Taylor Swift and Scarlett Johansson have publicly spoken out against the unauthorized use of their images in advertising campaigns and programs.
Works at McDonald’s
McDonald’s initiative to use AI robots for customer service has collapsed due to system errors. Instead of improving restaurants, it has sparked a wave of criticism and mockery on social media.
Ruined wedding
A wedding planner’s use of ChatGPT to plan a celebration in Las Vegas almost ended in disaster. The AI’s advice turned out to be wrong, causing a series of problems that had to be solved at the last minute.
Shameful Willy Wonka Exhibition
In Scotland, an exhibition based on the film “Wonka” was advertised. The bright AI-generated billboard attracted hundreds of visitors, but they ended up in an empty warehouse with few decorations, causing outrage and disappointment.
The year 2024 became a lesson for companies and developers that AI, although promising, needs more thorough testing and ethical regulation. The next year will show whether the industry can address these mistakes and avoid similar failures. It is hoped that these mistakes will be corrected next year.
