MIT AI Risk Repository
Browse AI risks
65 risk entries extracted from 74 frameworks, coded by domain, subdomain, causal entity, intent and timing. Filter, then export the current selection with its licence and citation attached.
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"The creation, perpetuation or exacerbation of inequalities and biases at a large-scale."
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61.02.29 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Incomplete or biased training data
"Incomplete or biased training data can lead to discriminatory AI outputs."
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61.02.11 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Centralized platforms deployed at scale
"The widespread use of common AI platforms can create centralized points of failure, making systems more vulnerable to disruptions or attacks"
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61.02.33 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Limitations in adversarial robustness
"AI models and systems are vulnerable to manipulation through adversarial inputs."
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61.02.42 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Risks from network interconnectivity
"The interconnectedness of AI networks can create vulnerabilities, where issues in one part of the network can have cascading effects across the system."
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61.02.20 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Detection challenges in content
"The difficulty in distinguishing synthetic content from authentic material adds to information risks."
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"AI’s potential for both beneficial and harmful applications complicates efforts to manage its societal impacts effectively."
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"Large-scale influence on communication and information systems, and epistemic processes more generally."
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"AI could be used to develop sophisticated tools to manipulate and persuade individuals."
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61.02.04 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Advertising-driven models
"AI models and systems underpin the advertising approaches that drive much of the internet, potentially influencing societal behavior."
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61.02.05 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
AI in totalitarian regimes
"AI-based surveillance and manipulation could be used to maintain global totalitarian regimes."
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61.02.34 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Limitations in model generative accuracy
"AI-generated deepfakes can create convincingly realistic but entirely fabricated information."
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61.02.43 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Surveillance capabilities
"AI models and systems may grant governments or corporations increased monitoring over individuals."
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61.02.49 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Widespread use of persuasion tools
"Widespread use of AI-powered persuasion tools could lead to systemic harm"
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"The dangers of AI amplifying the effectiveness/failures of nuclear, chemical, biological, and radiological weapons."
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61.02.02 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Ability to enhance and modify pathogens
"AI can be used to enhance pathogens, making them more lethal or resistant to treatments."
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"Powerful AI technologies may fall into the hands of terrorists."
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61.02.48 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Weaponization capabilities
"AI capabilities that could be deliberately weaponized for destructive purposes."
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"The tendency for humans to over-rely on AI models and systems, trusting their outputs without sufficient critical evaluation, which can lead to poor decision-making."
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61.02.28 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Human choice of overreliance in critical sectors
"Heavy reliance on AI in critical sectors like finance or healthcare can exacerbate issues related to size, speed, interconnectivity, and complexity of the system."
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"Profound negative long-term changes to social structures, cultural norms, and human relationships that may be difficult or impossible to reverse."
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61.02.35 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Limited human oversight in decisions
"As AI models and systems gain autonomy, the ability of humans to oversee and intervene in decision-making processes diminishes."
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61.02.39 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Personal decision automation capabilities
"AI models and systems could decide or influence important personal decisions."
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"The erosion of democratic processes and public trust in social/political institutions."
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"The concentration of military, economic, or political power of entities in possession or control of AI or AI-enabled technologies."
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61.02.07 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Algorithmic monoculture
"The dominance of specific AI models could lead to a lack of diversity in approaches, amplifying systemic risks if these models fail."
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61.02.19 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Dependency on providers
"Excessive reliance on specific AI providers can lead to vulnerabilities due to lack of alternatives or interoperability."
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61.02.50 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Winner-take-all dynamics
"The competitive nature of AI development could lead to significant eco- nomic and security advantages for a few entities."
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"Economic disruptions ranging from large impacts on the labor market to broader economic changes that could lead to exacerbated wealth inequality, instability in the financial system, labor exploitation or other economic dimensions."
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61.02.01 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Ability to automate jobs
"The ability to automate jobs by AI models and systems can lead to significant job displacement, economic disruption, and social inequality."
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61.02.10 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Capabilities that enable substitution of humans
"The progressive replacement of human roles by AI models and systems can lead to societal disruption."
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61.02.25 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Exploitation in AI development
"Outsourcing tasks like data labeling to low-income countries can perpetuate inequality."
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"The international and national security threats, including cyber warfare, arms races, and geopolitical instability."
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61.02.17 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Dangerous development races
"Competitive pressures could lead to the neglect of safety measures in AI development."
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61.02.26 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Geopolitical competition for superiority
"Strategic competition between nations over AI capabilities could heighten global tensions and destabilize international relations."
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61.02.27 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
High-speed AI operations
"The fast operational speed of AI models and systems in competitive environments can lead to errors that are difficult to detect and correct in time."
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"The complex and rapidly evolving nature of AI makes them inherently difficult to govern effectively, leading to systemic regulatory and oversight failures."
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61.02.12 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Challenges in perceiving, measuring, and recognizing harm
"Harm from AI often manifests subtly or over the long term, making it difficult to identify, measure, and address effectively."
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"Harms could result from a combination of regulatory, management, and operational failures."
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61.02.14 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Complex attribution and responsibility
"When multiple actors are involved in AI development and deployment, it becomes difficult to assign responsibility for harm, complicating accountability."
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61.02.40 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Rapid development outpacing regulation
"The fast pace of AI development may outstrip regulatory and legal frameworks."
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61.02.41 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Resistance to international law
"AI models and systems may prove difficult to regulate or control under international law."
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61.02.47 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Unpredictability of AI development trajectory
"The unpredictable trajectory of AI development complicates governance and risk management."
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"The impact of AI on the environment, including risks related to climate change and pollution."
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61.02.23 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Energy-intensive processes
"AI data collection, storage, and model training are energy-intensive, contributing to environmental risks."
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"The risk of AI models and systems acting against human interests due to misalignment, loss of control, or rogue AI scenarios."
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61.02.06 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
AI objectives mis-aligned with human intentions
"AI models and systems might develop goals that diverge from human intentions."
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"AI models and systems that appear aligned with human goals during development may behave unpredictably or dangerously once deployed"
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61.02.21 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Development choices pursuing cognitive superiority over humans
"AI models and systems with cognitive capabilities superior to humans could outcompete or dominate human decision-making, leading to conflicts over resources and control."
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61.02.24 · Risk Sub-Category
Sources of systemic risks from general-purpose AI
Evolutionary dynamics
"AI models and systems may develop their own motivations, leading to unpredictable behaviors."
Informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult qualified counsel before acting.