US Government Used ChatGPT to Cancel Humanities Grants, Prompting Lawsuit

The event explicitly involves the use of ChatGPT, an AI system, in a flawed process that led to the cancellation of grants, causing harm to affected organizations and individuals. The harms include violations of constitutional rights and disruption of funding critical to humanities research and community programs. The AI system's outputs were pivotal in the decision-making process that caused these harms. Hence, this qualifies as an AI Incident due to direct harm resulting from the AI system's use.

The event explicitly involves the use of ChatGPT, an AI system, in a decision-making process that led to the cancellation of grants. The AI's role was pivotal in flagging grants as DEI-related, which was used as a basis for terminating funding. This led to realized harms including violation of rights, unlawful executive action bypassing Congress, and harm to communities and academic institutions. Therefore, the event meets the criteria for an AI Incident because the AI system's use directly led to significant harm and legal violations.

The use of ChatGPT to make decisions about grant cancellations based on DEI criteria led to the termination of grants related to marginalized groups, which is a violation of rights and harms communities by restricting cultural and historical understanding. The AI system was used in the decision-making process, and its outputs directly influenced harmful outcomes, including the withdrawal of over $100 million in funding and project shutdowns. This meets the criteria for an AI Incident due to realized harm linked to the AI system's use.

The event explicitly involves an AI system (ChatGPT) used by a government department to make decisions that directly led to the cancellation of grants, which harmed organizations and individuals dependent on this funding. The harm includes violations of constitutional rights and disruption of public programs, fitting the definition of an AI Incident. The AI system's flawed use was a pivotal factor in causing these harms, and the event describes realized harm rather than potential harm.

The event involves the use of an AI system (ChatGPT) in a government process that directly led to the termination of grants, causing harm to multiple organizations and communities. The harms include violations of constitutional rights (Equal Protection Clause, First Amendment), unlawful administrative actions, and disruption of funding critical to humanities research and cultural preservation. The AI system's outputs were pivotal in identifying grants to cut, including misclassifications based on sensitive demographic terms, which constitutes a violation of rights and harm to communities. Therefore, this qualifies as an AI Incident because the AI system's use directly led to significant harm and legal violations.