ChatGPT hallucinates, here's 5 ways to spot when it does (www.techradar.com)

AI chatbots, including ChatGPT, continue to struggle with a phenomenon known as "hallucinations," where they generate inaccurate information presented confidently. This issue is significant for the AI/ML community as it highlights a fundamental limitation in language models, which generate text based on learned patterns rather than factual accuracy. Users need to be vigilant when interacting with these AI systems, especially since their responses can contain specific, yet entirely fabricated details, leading to false trust. To effectively spot hallucinations, users can look for certain indicators: unusually specific details without credible sources, an overconfident tone in responses, untraceable or “ghost” citations, contradictory follow-up answers, and illogical reasoning or nonsensical suggestions. These markers reveal that the AI may be fabricating information rather than accurately representing truth. As reliance on generative AI grows, fostering skills for discerning trustworthiness in AI outputs becomes crucial, necessitating a shift from blind acceptance to informed verification amidst evolving digital literacies.