From useful inaccuracies to harmful errors

AI errors exist on a spectrum from potentially helpful to seriously harmful. Understanding this range helps teams design appropriate safeguards.

Some "errors" actually benefit users during creative tasks. A writing assistant that suggests an unexpected metaphor might spark better ideas than what users originally intended. These useful inaccuracies help with ideation and expand creative options.

Minor errors slow progress without causing real harm. When a search engine returns one irrelevant result among nine good ones, users simply skip it. These errors create friction, not failures. With good controls and interaction design, users recover quickly.

But errors can escalate to serious harm. A financial AI giving wrong tax advice could trigger audits. A medical AI missing allergies could risk lives. These situations demand conservative design and human oversight.

The most severe errors involve policy violations. Hate speech, dangerous content, misinformation, or child sexual abuse material (CSAM) require immediate intervention. These aren't just inconveniences but potential catastrophes. Design teams must map where each feature falls on this spectrum and build appropriate safeguards. Creative tools can embrace useful inaccuracies. Critical systems need conservative designs that prevent harmful errors.