Originally Posted by
mickeycrimm
AI Overview
AI is not inherently factual and should not be blindly trusted. AI models can generate misinformation and false content, a phenomenon often called "hallucinations". AI produces what it calculates to be the most probable response based on patterns in its training data, not based on a genuine understanding of truth.
Why AI is not inherently factual
Data dependency: The accuracy of AI is limited by the quality of the data it was trained on. If the data is biased, incomplete, or contains inaccuracies, the AI's output will reflect these flaws.
No true understanding: Unlike humans, AI lacks genuine comprehension, common sense, or reasoning. It does not "know" if its answer is correct. It merely follows programmed rules and identifies patterns to generate responses.
Fabricated information: AI can confidently invent facts, people, events, and citations that do not exist. A prominent example occurred in 2023 when two lawyers were sanctioned for filing a legal brief that cited six fabricated case summaries generated by ChatGPT.
Outdated information: AI models are trained on data collected up to a specific point in time. Because the world is constantly changing, an AI can provide information that is no longer current or accurate.
Hidden biases: AI can inadvertently absorb and amplify human biases present in its training data. This has led to unfair outcomes in areas like healthcare algorithms and hiring tools.