Over the past few years, millions of Americans have come to rely on artificial intelligence for daily use. Whether it’s writing an email in ChatGPT, finding information in Google Gemini, or getting a summary of work from Microsoft Copilot; AI gives you an answer in seconds. It can make difficult information seem simpler or even help you create things. All of these things can be done incredibly quickly, but the answers are not always correct.
AI sometimes produces facts or details that are wrong, out of date, or completely made up; but all still sounds completely right. Because of this, learning to fact-check what AI gives you is a necessary digital tool. You don’t have to fact-check everything it gives you; just when and what kind of information that it is providing.
Why AI sometimes does not present the correct facts
Although there is so much information available from the internet that search engines access; AI finds information through recognizing patterns in the data that it was trained on. Instead of finding information through searching web pages, AI guesses what the correct answer will be by following patterns in that data, rather than checking facts on the live internet. The answer found in this way can often work incredibly well, but that does not mean it will always be correct. When using AI for information on events that happened recently or research on very specific topics such as specific numbers, dates or names; the answers may become inaccurate and sound more confident than they actually are.
The reliability of AI’s answer is not based on how confident it is
Often when we hear a fact or piece of information from AI, it will be delivered with such confidence; we assume that it is definitely correct. This is because humans often associate confidence with knowledge; but polished text isn’t always proof that something is true. Every time a fact from an AI assistant influences a decision, you need to judge its confidence in how convincing it sounds versus how true the information is; separate and distinctly.
When does it matter to fact-check AI?
Some responses will require more checking than others. Obviously, a few errors can be made in a response providing recipe ideas or movie suggestions; but higher stakes can and should be checked.
Financial, medical or legal details
In these areas, always use a trained professional, governmental agency or other certified source for facts. It is very important to cross reference for:
- Tax details, investment information, or insurance policies
- Health or medical advice
- Laws, legal advice or information on new regulations
Although these things can sound complicated and AI may make them seem easy; an incorrect number can have extremely severe consequences and should always be cross-referenced using a government agency, health professional or other recognized source.
Current events and information that rapidly changes
When you try to gain information about a current situation; it can change in minutes, hours, or days. News reports, election returns, government policy details, product recalls, or new software and company announcements may change. A quick web search, using a reliable news source can let you know that what the AI has given you is current and accurate.
Specific facts like numbers or quotes
Numbers can sometimes be the easiest information for an AI to misplace. For things like statistics, historical numbers, scientific data or even names or job titles; always double check. Cross referencing these tiny pieces of information can only take a few minutes and will save you the embarrassment of quoting false details.
How to fact-check the information that AI gives you
- Ask the AI for clarification. When it gives you a fact you aren’t sure about; ask it to explain itself. Asking “how confident are you with that piece of information?” or “what is the source of your information?” can sometimes reveal its limitations or gaps in understanding that were not obvious in the first explanation.
- Use a primary source. This means searching for the exact information you want on an official website or other direct source for that information. These are usually government organizations, research studies, university papers, or reports from that company or official body.
- Rephrase your request. Often, changing the wording of your prompt will result in a different, perhaps even more correct, answer from the AI.
- Cross-reference Look at the information provided by AI, and cross-reference it using another AI assistant, and more importantly, using websites with known reliability. If both sources provide the same information, chances are good that it is correct.
Warning signals that require a closer check
- Statistics without a stated source It’s normal for AI to make up numbers if they don’t know them for sure.
- Quotes that sound authentic It can even invent words that someone might say, but have never actually said.
- Confidently provided information about a very obscure subject If something is extremely rare or technical, information may be sparse, and AI may not have sufficient resources to pull it from.
Turn fact-checking into a habit
Even without getting caught out, fact-checking will become an unconscious habit and it will save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Treat the AI’s answer as a first draft of an important piece of information and always confirm anything that is crucial. Don’t be worried or afraid about fact-checking AI though, use it for speed and efficiency while not blindly accepting everything it tells you. Developing this habit will make you a more informed internet user than ever before.
