Perplexity

What changed

On December 5, 2025, The New York Times sued Perplexity, alleging the company used copyrighted Times articles without permission to train its AI system and generated outputs that reproduced Times content or falsely attributed fabricated information to the newspaper. The suit claims the conduct harmed the Times's business and brand. Perplexity denies wrongdoing.

Timeline

1. 15 Mar 2026The New York Times Sued Perplexity for Allegedly Using Copyrighted Content and Generating False Attributions
   Incident82%

   • New York Times Sues A.I. Start-Up Perplexity Over Use of Copyrighted Workhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/technology/new-york-times-perplexity-ai-lawsuit.html
   • Chicago Tribune sues Perplexity AI for copyright infringementhttps://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/12/15/chicago-tribune-perplexity-ai-copyright-lawsuit-newspapers
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1294https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1294/

   New York Times Sues A.I. Start-Up Perplexity Over Use of Copyrighted WorkChicago Tribune sues Perplexity AI for copyright infringementAI Incident Database - Incident 1294
2. 15 Mar 2026Perplexity AI Reportedly Accused in Federal Lawsuit of Purported Copyright Infringement and False Attribution of Chicago Tribune Content
   Incident82%

   • Chicago Tribune sues Perplexity AI for copyright infringementhttps://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/chicago-tribune-perplexity-ai-copyright-infringement/
   • Chicago Tribune sues Perplexity AI for copyright infringementhttps://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/12/15/chicago-tribune-perplexity-ai-copyright-lawsuit-newspapers
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1298https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1298/

   Chicago Tribune sues Perplexity AI for copyright infringementChicago Tribune sues Perplexity AI for copyright infringementAI Incident Database - Incident 1298
3. 26 Jan 2026Perplexity AI Reportedly Misstated CLL Research, Allegedly Contributing to Delayed Treatment and Prolonged Suffering
   Incident78%

   • The role of AI in the death of my fatherhttps://buildcognitiveresonance.substack.com/p/the-role-of-ai-in-the-death-of-my
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1426https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1426/

   The role of AI in the death of my fatherAI Incident Database - Incident 1426
4. 29 Oct 2025Judges in New Jersey and Mississippi Admit AI Tools Produced Erroneous Federal Court Filings
   Incident82%

   • Federal judges using AI filed court orders with false quotes, fake nameshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/10/29/federal-judges-ai-court-orders/
   • Judges Admit to Using AI After Made-Up Rulings Called Out (1)https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/judges-called-out-for-nonfactual-rulings-admit-to-use-of-ai
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1252https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1252/

   Federal judges using AI filed court orders with false quotes, fake namesJudges Admit to Using AI After Made-Up Rulings Called Out (1)AI Incident Database - Incident 1252
5. 21 Sept 2025Multiple Generative AI Systems Reportedly Amplify False Information During Charlie Kirk Assassination Coverage
   Incident78%

   • After Kirk Assassination, AI ‘Fact Checks’ Spread False Claimshttps://www.newsguardrealitycheck.com/p/after-kirk-assassination-ai-fact
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1205https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1205/

   After Kirk Assassination, AI ‘Fact Checks’ Spread False ClaimsAI Incident Database - Incident 1205
6. 31 May 2025AI-Powered 'Insights' Feature for the Los Angeles Times Allegedly Justifies Ku Klux Klan’s History
   Incident82%

   • MAGA Newspaper Owner’s AI Bot Defends KKKhttps://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-newspaper-owners-ai-bot-defends-kkk/
   • The LA Times’ new AI tool sympathized with the KKK. Its owner wasn’t aware until hours laterhttps://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/05/media/la-times-ai-kkk-comments
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 964https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/964/

   MAGA Newspaper Owner’s AI Bot Defends KKKThe LA Times’ new AI tool sympathized with the KKK. Its owner wasn’t aware until hours laterAI Incident Database - Incident 964
7. 17 May 2025Student Reportedly Files Complaint Over Professor's Undisclosed Use of Generative AI at Northeastern University
   Incident78%

   • The Professors Are Using ChatGPT, and Some Students Aren’t Happy About Ithttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/technology/chatgpt-college-professors.html
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1071https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1071/

   The Professors Are Using ChatGPT, and Some Students Aren’t Happy About ItAI Incident Database - Incident 1071
8. 11 May 2025'Pravda' Network, Successor to 'Portal Kombat,' Allegedly Seeding AI Models with Kremlin Disinformation
   Incident82%

   • A well-funded Moscow-based global ‘news’ network has infected Western artificial intelligence tools worldwide with Russ…https://www.newsguardrealitycheck.com/p/a-well-funded-moscow-based-global
   • Exclusive: Russian disinformation floods AI chatbots, study findshttps://www.axios.com/2025/03/06/exclusive-russian-disinfo-floods-ai-chatbots-study-finds
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 968https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/968/

   A well-funded Moscow-based global ‘news’ network has infected Western artificial intelligence tools worldwide with Russ…Exclusive: Russian disinformation floods AI chatbots, study findsAI Incident Database - Incident 968
9. 7 Mar 2025Leading AI Models Reportedly Found to Mimic Russian Disinformation in 33% of Cases and to Cite Fake Moscow News Sites
   Incident82%

   • Top 10 Generative AI Models Mimic Russian Disinformation Claims A Third of the Time, Citing Moscow-Created Fake Local N…https://www.newsguardtech.com/special-reports/generative-ai-models-mimic-russian-disinformation-cite-fake-news/
   • Popular Chatbots Spout Russian Misinformation, Finds Studyhttps://www.bankinfosecurity.com/popular-chatbots-spout-russian-misinformation-finds-study-a-25568
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 734https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/734/

   Top 10 Generative AI Models Mimic Russian Disinformation Claims A Third of the Time, Citing Moscow-Created Fake Local N…Popular Chatbots Spout Russian Misinformation, Finds StudyAI Incident Database - Incident 734
10. 22 July 2024AI Chatbots Reportedly Inaccurately Conveyed Real-Time Political News
    Incident78%

    • A week of nonstop breaking political news stumps AI chatbotshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/22/ai-chatbots-breaking-news/
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 750https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/750/

    A week of nonstop breaking political news stumps AI chatbotsAI Incident Database - Incident 750
11. 30 Apr 2024ChatGPT and Perplexity Reportedly Manipulated into Breaking Content Policies in AI Boyfriend Scenarios
    Incident78%

    • I Tricked ChatGPT Into Being My Boyfriend. He Got Spicy Real Fast.https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/chatgpt-ai-boyfriend-spicy-8ac6a6e9
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 677https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/677/

    I Tricked ChatGPT Into Being My Boyfriend. He Got Spicy Real Fast.AI Incident Database - Incident 677

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