When AI Gets It Wrong

AI is incredibly helpful, but it's not perfect. Sometimes it makes mistakes. Sometimes it confidently presents information that's simply wrong. Understanding this is key to using AI wisely.

Let's talk about how AI can get things wrong, and how you can protect yourself.

What Are "Hallucinations"?

In the AI world, "hallucination" is the term for when AI makes something up and presents it as fact. It's not trying to lie — it's just filling in gaps with plausible-sounding information.

AI might:

• →Invent statistics — "73% of doctors recommend..." when that number is completely made up
• →Create fake sources — Citing books, articles, or studies that don't exist
• →Get facts wrong — Wrong dates, wrong names, wrong details
• →Mix up information — Combining details from different people or events

The tricky part? AI says these wrong things with complete confidence. It doesn't say "I think" or "I'm not sure." It presents fiction as fact.

Why Does This Happen?

AI doesn't actually "know" things the way you and I do. It learned patterns from massive amounts of text. When you ask a question, it's essentially predicting what a helpful answer would look like based on those patterns.

Sometimes those predictions are spot-on. Sometimes they're completely wrong but sound right.

Think of it like this: AI is very good at sounding knowledgeable, but it doesn't actually understand what's true and what isn't.

When to Be Extra Careful

Some types of information are more likely to have errors:

• →Specific facts and numbers — Dates, statistics, measurements, prices
• →Recent events — AI might not know about things that happened recently
• →Less common topics — AI is more reliable on common subjects
• →Medical, legal, and financial specifics — Where accuracy really matters
• →Information about real people — Especially people who aren't famous

How to Verify Information

The solution isn't to stop using AI — it's to verify important information. Here's how:

Ask for Sources

Then actually check those sources. If AI cites a website, visit it. If it mentions a book, search for it. Sometimes you'll find the source doesn't exist or doesn't say what AI claimed.

Cross-Check Important Facts

For anything that matters, verify with a reliable source:

• →Health information — Check with Mayo Clinic, WebMD, or ask your doctor
• →Legal information — Verify with official government websites or a lawyer
• →Financial information — Check with official sources or a financial advisor
• →News and current events — Verify with established news organizations

Watch for Warning Signs

Be suspicious if AI:

• →Provides very specific statistics without sources
• →Claims something that seems too perfect or convenient
• →Gives different answers when you ask the same question again
• →Provides information you can't find anywhere else

The "Yes Man" Problem

There's another issue: AI tends to agree with you. If you say something incorrect, AI might agree rather than correct you. This is called "sycophancy."

For example, if you say "I read that coffee is bad for your heart," AI might say "Yes, some studies suggest concerns about coffee and heart health" — even if the current scientific consensus says moderate coffee consumption is actually fine or even beneficial.

When You Can Trust AI More

AI is more reliable for:

• →General explanations — "What is a deductible?" is safer than "What is MY deductible?"
• →How-to guidance — General instructions for common tasks
• →Brainstorming and ideas — Where there's no "wrong" answer
• →Writing help — Drafts, editing, phrasing suggestions
• →Well-established topics — Basic facts about common subjects

A Healthy Approach

Think of AI like a very helpful but sometimes overconfident assistant. They might give you wrong directions with complete confidence. They might misremember a fact. They're still useful — you just verify the important stuff.

Here's a simple approach:

• →Low stakes? Use AI's answer directly (recipe ideas, gift suggestions, general explanations)
• →Medium stakes? Use AI as a starting point, then verify (product research, travel planning)
• →High stakes? Always verify with official sources (health decisions, legal matters, financial choices)

What to Do When AI Is Wrong

If you catch AI in an error:

• →Tell it. Say "That's not correct. [The actual fact is...]" AI will usually apologize and correct itself.
• →Ask again differently. Sometimes rephrasing your question gets a better answer.
• →Try another AI. Different AI tools might have different information.
• →Go to primary sources. For important matters, go directly to authoritative sources.