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MIT AI Risk Initiative
BackIP/copyright loss
Impersonation/identity theft
Personality rights loss

IP/copyright loss

A Collaborative, Human-Centred Taxonomy of AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Harms

Abercrombie et al. (2024)

SourceDOI
Sub-category
Risk Domain
4Malicious Actors & Misuse
4.3Fraud, scams, and targeted manipulation

Using AI systems to gain a personal advantage over others such as through cheating, fraud, scams, blackmail or targeted manipulation of beliefs or behavior. Examples include AI-facilitated plagiarism for research or education, impersonating a trusted or fake individual for illegitimate financial benefit, or creating humiliating or sexual imagery.

"IP/copyright loss - Misuse or abuse of an individual or organisation’s intellectual property, including copyright, trademarks, and patents."(p. 17)

Entity: Who or what caused the harm

Human

Due to a decision or action made by humans

AI system

Due to a decision or action made by an AI system

Other

Due to some other reason or is ambiguous

Intent: Whether the harm was intentional or accidental

Intentional

Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal

Unintentional

Due to an unexpected outcome from pursuing a goal

Other

Without clearly specifying the intentionality

Timing: Whether the risk is pre- or post-deployment

Pre-deployment

Occurring before the AI is deployed

Post-deployment

Occurring after the AI model has been trained and deployed

Other

Without a clearly specified time of occurrence

Part of Autonomy

Other risks from Abercrombie et al. (2024) (53)

Autonomy

5.2 Loss of human agency and autonomy
OtherOtherOther

Autonomy > Autonomy/agency loss

5.2 Loss of human agency and autonomy
OtherOtherOther

Autonomy > Impersonation/identity theft

4.3 Fraud, scams, and targeted manipulation
HumanIntentionalPost-deployment

Autonomy > Personality rights loss

5.2 Loss of human agency and autonomy
OtherOtherOther

Financial and business

4.3 Fraud, scams, and targeted manipulation
HumanOtherPost-deployment

Financial and business > Business operations/infrastructure damage

4.2 Cyberattacks, weapon development or use, and mass harm
OtherOtherPost-deployment
View all 53 risks from this paper →