Generative AI can summarize, brainstorm and explain quickly, but a polished answer may still contain incorrect facts, invented citations or outdated information. NIST calls confidently presented false output “confabulation”; it is a consequence of systems generating likely language rather than consulting a guaranteed database of truth.
Start by separating claims from explanation
Highlight statements that can be checked: names, dates, statistics, quotations, laws, medical guidance, prices, schedules and links. General reasoning may be harder to verify, but factual building blocks should have evidence.
Open the cited source
Do not trust a citation because it looks academic or includes a plausible URL. Confirm that the page, paper or filing exists, that the author and date match, and that the source actually supports the claim. Fabricated references are a known failure mode.
Prefer primary sources
For laws, use the statute, court opinion or agency guidance. For health, use public-health agencies and qualified clinicians. For finance, check regulators, filings and official account terms. For science, find the original paper and note whether it is peer reviewed, a preprint or a press release.
Check time and place
Ask when the information was last updated and which jurisdiction it covers. A correct answer for one state, country, software version or tax year can be wrong somewhere else. Search-enabled AI may improve freshness, but a search result can still be misunderstood.
Recalculate important numbers
Request the formula and inputs, then reproduce the calculation with a calculator or spreadsheet. Check units, percentages, time periods and whether the answer mixed nominal and inflation-adjusted values. For high-stakes financial, medical or legal decisions, consult a qualified professional.
Use a second independent source
Look for confirmation from a source that is not simply repeating the first. Agreement among copied articles is not independent verification. When reliable sources disagree, the correct conclusion may be that uncertainty remains.
Bottom line
Use AI as a starting point, not the final authority. Verify citations, prefer primary sources, check dates and jurisdictions, reproduce calculations and pause when the evidence does not support the confidence of the answer.
