AI Accidents Gallery
Stories of Machine Mischief, Human Confusion, and Unexpected Delight.
This is a growing collection of real-world encounters with generative AI: sometimes funny, sometimes flawed, and often surprisingly revealing.
Each story shows how AI can deceive us and how we sometimes deceive ourselves in the process. Together, we’ll decode the patterns behind these moments of confident nonsense, subtle persuasion, charming misfires, and the occasional flash of brilliance that make working with AI both fraught and fascinating.
Explore the gallery, share your own, and see why understanding AI’s accidents is the first step toward using it wisely.
⚠️ The AI Accidents Gallery captures real examples of generative AI behaviour at a moment in time. Given how quickly AI is advancing, some examples may become outdated as systems improve. These snapshots still offer valuable insights into how AI can mislead, confuse, or surprise—even if the specifics change over time.
The Sneak
My take on GenAI’s version of Dr. Harry Brignull’s “Sneaking” deceptive pattern, the Sneak happens when GenAI quietly introduces a new idea, assumption, or angle that wasn’t in your prompt—but now feels like it was.
The Mirror Trap
The Mirror Trap happens when GenAI reflects your assumptions, language, or implied beliefs right back at you—without question. It sounds affirming and collaborative, but it’s not evaluating your idea—it’s amplifying it.
The Measured Hallucination
The Measured Hallucination is when GenAI invents facts, names, or events that sound real—and presents them in a thoughtful, considered way. It can be even more deceptive than an obvious error.