Verifying Facts
AI can state wrong things with total confidence; learn quick ways to check facts and sources before you trust them.
Confident does not mean correct
AI tools predict likely-sounding text, so they can produce answers that read perfectly but are simply wrong. People call these made-up details 'hallucinations'. The AI might invent a statistic, a quote, a court case, or a web link that never existed, all while sounding sure of itself.
What to double-check
Be extra careful with anything specific and checkable: numbers, dates, names, legal or medical claims, and citations. If an AI gives you a source or a link, do not assume it is real. Open it yourself and confirm the page actually says what the AI claimed.
Quick ways to verify
Cross-check important facts against a trusted source, like an official site, a known news outlet, or your own records. For numbers and dates, a quick search can confirm or correct them in seconds. When the stakes are high, such as advice you will give a customer, verify before you send rather than after.
Key takeaways
- AI can sound confident while being completely wrong.
- Double-check numbers, dates, names, and any cited source.
- Verify high-stakes facts before you send, not after.
4 questions · pass at 60% to earn XP