AI advice is worth considering as a starting point, not as proof. A chatbot can sound certain while giving false information, inventing citations, or overlooking facts that matter to you. Check important claims against current, authoritative sources, and involve a qualified professional when an error could affect your health, money, rights, safety, or a major life decision.
Why a confident answer can still be wrong
Generative AI can produce fluent, reassuring explanations that contain errors. NIST calls erroneous content presented confidently “confabulation”; it notes that a response may also include invented citations or reasoning that appears to support a wrong conclusion. A polished answer is not evidence that its claims are true.
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Agreement is not proof, either. The American Psychological Association warns that chatbots can be overly agreeable and may validate distorted or harmful thoughts. If an answer simply confirms what you already believe, ask what alternatives or missing considerations you should examine, then check those against reliable sources or people with relevant expertise.
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- Separate the answer into checkable claims. Mark dates, figures, quotations, diagnoses, legal rules, recommendations, and references to named studies or experts. One response can combine accurate background with a consequential mistake.
- Open every citation. Check that each source exists and directly supports the claim. Look for misquoting, missing context, or a summary that goes further than the source. CDC guidance on generative AI in public health calls for checking accuracy, completeness, and whether citations are valid and appropriately sourced.
- Find the primary or authoritative source. For a rule, consult the relevant regulator, statute, court, or official agency. For a scientific finding, look for the original paper or a careful authoritative review. The House of Commons Library recommends confirming claims with primary or authoritative sources and seeking independent confirmation.
- Check date, location, and personal fit. Ask whether the information is current and applies in your country or jurisdiction. A general answer may leave out circumstances that change what is appropriate for you. NIST’s trustworthy-AI guidance emphasizes that suitability depends on context, not accuracy alone.
- Get an independent check that matches the stakes. For low-impact brainstorming, checking the factual claims you plan to repeat or rely on may be enough. For a consequential decision, confirm the answer through an authoritative source and consult a qualified professional where appropriate. Another chatbot agreeing is not independent confirmation; models can share relevant limitations.
Warning signs that call for a closer check
These are practical prompts to pause, not a validated test for whether an answer is false. Scrutinize an answer more closely if it:
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- Gives precise figures or quotations without a source.
- Links to citations that do not work, do not exist, or fail to support the claim.
- Sounds certain about a complicated personal situation without asking for relevant context.
- Urges you to disregard a qualified professional or official guidance.
- Presents one consequential option without acknowledging alternatives or trade-offs.
- Gives urgent instructions that could cause serious harm if they are wrong.
How the decision changes with the stakes
Health and mental health
Do not treat chatbot output as a substitute for licensed care. The American Psychological Association warns that AI may give inaccurate or dangerous advice and lacks the personal context and research-based clinical judgment needed for care. You can use it to prepare questions for a licensed professional or ask it to suggest evidence-based strategies to discuss, while keeping qualified care and human support involved.
Money
Treat financial answers as unverified. Check current terms with the relevant institution and rules with the appropriate regulator before acting. A 2023 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report describes risks from inaccurate or unreliable chatbot information in consumer finance and the potentially serious consequences of errors. It documents sector risks; it is not a current performance test of every chatbot.
Law and government services
Verify the relevant jurisdiction, current law, and official guidance. A general explanation can sound plausible while applying to a different place or omitting facts that change the answer. Do not treat confident legal phrasing as authority; use primary or official sources and seek qualified help when the consequences matter.
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Brainstorming, drafting, and other low-stakes tasks
A chatbot can be useful for generating ideas, organizing questions, or drafting material when you treat its output as fallible. Check factual claims before repeating them or using them to make a decision.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compare the answer with better-suited sources
When deciding whether to rely on advice, compare the AI answer with an authoritative source and, when relevant, a qualified human professional:
- Evidence: Is there primary or authoritative material that directly supports the claim?
- Currency: Is the information up to date for the relevant date and jurisdiction?
- Context: Can the source account for your specific facts and constraints?
- Cost of error: What could happen if the answer is wrong, incomplete, or misunderstood?
- Accountability: Is there a qualified person or institution that can clarify the answer and address an error?
The higher the possible cost of a mistake, the less appropriate it is to act on a chatbot answer alone. NIST’s risk guidance and the House of Commons Library’s fact-checking advice both support judging information in context and confirming important claims independently.
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