Two Home Affairs officials suspended after AI 'hallucinations' found (www.citizen.co.za)

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has suspended two officials after discovering AI-generated "hallucinations" in its revised white paper on citizenship, immigration, and refugee protection. The discrepancies involved fictitious references added to the document, which were not cited appropriately in the main text. This incident highlights the challenges and risks associated with the integration of AI in policy-making, as the improper use of large language models can lead to significant data integrity issues. The department has committed to modernizing its internal processes by incorporating AI checks and review protocols moving forward. This incident follows a similar situation at the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, where fictitious citations were found in a draft National AI Policy, prompting an immediate withdrawal of the document. The DHA has emphasized that despite these errors, the core content of its revised policy accurately reflects the government’s position and was developed through comprehensive consultations. As AI continues to reshape operational practices in both public and private sectors, agencies are urged to enhance their methodologies to confidently leverage AI's potential while maintaining data reliability and accuracy.