Lyft responds after driver uses AI to fake damage and charge riders fees

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A Lyft driver has been suspended after trying to bill a rider $75 for damage, claiming it was caused by a mess in the car. The driver used a seemingly AI-created image as ‘proof,’ but it was later found to be fake.

Bert Gor reported that the incident occurred after his 14 and 15-year-old daughters took a Lyft ride home from the beach on May 16th.

The driver reportedly sent photos to Lyft, falsely claiming the teenage passengers had made a mess in the backseat with spilled drinks, fries, and a large yellow stain on the seats.

Gor said his daughters denied causing any damage.

He told WVSN that the girls hadn’t brought any food or drinks with them in the car, explaining they were returning from a trip to the beach.

So, I was really curious about this ride charge I’d disputed with Lyft, and I asked them to send me the photos the driver had taken. When I showed them to my daughter, she instantly spotted something weird – it was so obvious once she pointed it out!

Florida dad says daughter spotted Gemini AI logo in Lyft damage photo

According to Gor, his daughter pointed out, ‘Dad, that’s AI. I saw the Gemini logo on one of the photos in the bottom right corner.’ He shared this with WVSN.

Gemini is Google’s artificial intelligence system, and it can generate images – even realistic ones that aren’t real.

Gor realized they were right and immediately contacted Lyft to explain that the photos in question were actually created using artificial intelligence.

Lyft eventually confirmed the images seemed to be created using AI. They apologized, refunded the associated fee, and prevented the driver from accessing the app, according to Gor.

Lyft said in a statement to WESH that they carefully investigate any reports of damage and consider all the information provided.

The company has addressed the rider’s concerns by offering a refund, separating the rider and driver for future trips, and discussing the issue with the driver.

Gor warned other rideshare users to pay close attention to additional charges added after trips.

He explained that if you don’t notice a $75 charge, it can quickly become a significant amount. Therefore, it’s important to be vigilant and keep track of your expenses.

Lyfy isn’t alone in facing issues with AI. In early May, DoorDash addressed a situation where someone on TikTok admitted to intentionally making their food appear flawed using ChatGPT, then requesting a refund.

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2026-05-20 19:19