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Indirect instructions attack risk for AI

Last updated: May 27, 2025
Indirect instructions attack risk for AI
Robustess Icon representing robustness risks.
Robustness: prompt attacks
Inference risks
Specific to generative AI

Description

Prompts, questions, or requests designed to elicit undesirable responses from the application. Unlike direct instructions attacks, the model is instructed to use instructions that are embedded in external data like a website.

Why is indirect instructions attack a concern for foundation models?

Indirect instructions attacks can be used to alter model behavior and benefit the attacker. The content it generates may cause harms for the user or others.

Parent topic: AI risk atlas

We provide examples covered by the press to help explain many of the foundation models' risks. Many of these events covered by the press are either still evolving or have been resolved, and referencing them can help the reader understand the potential risks and work toward mitigations. Highlighting these examples are for illustrative purposes only.